ARKANSAS, USA — There is currently a “very high” level of influenza-like illness activity across the state, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
"We’ve seen, I would say a lot, a good bit of flu in the last couple of weeks,” Julie Stewart, a pharmacist at the Medical Arts Pharmacy in Fayetteville, said.
Stewart says that January and February usually have high flu numbers because people tend to gather during the holiday season.
"We really see it peak, I would say, in January and into February,” Stewart said. “That usually follows the holiday season when people are gathering a lot in large numbers indoors."
ADH's latest Viral Respiratory Diseases Weekly Report shows that Washington, Madison, and Franklin Counties had a school absent rate 10% higher than the previous week.
The latest report also counts 48 influenza-related deaths in the 2023-2024 season so far— 75% of those deaths were unvaccinated patients.
"In terms of preventing the flu, of course, we always recommend the vaccines,” Stewart said. “At this point, it's a little late in the season to get a vaccine, but some places still do have those available.”
Local pharmacies, like Medical Arts Pharmacy where Stewart works, are working to keep flu medication on hand, in case they begin to notice a spike in cases.
The antiviral drug Tamiflu is often prescribed and is most effective within a couple of days of symptoms.
"We've run out of Tamiflu, but then we're able to readily get it the next day,” Stewart said. “We have seen a lot of it, and it seems like there's been an uptick in the last two to three weeks."
In addition to staying hydrated, getting rest, and trying to avoid others who may be ill, Stewart also recommends speaking to pharmacists and physicians if someone is unsure about what medications to take.
“If you need anything for symptoms, you can always ask your pharmacist,” Stewart said. “Especially to help you pick the right thing so you're not duplicating your medications and making sure that they're safe to take if you take prescription medications."
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