Wisconsin DHS: Influenza cases remain high in state, could peak this month

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Flu numbers remain very high across Wisconsin after a big jump during the holidays.

Experts say it's not the end quite yet, and it may not be too late to protect yourself.

Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services show the state currently has "very high" respiratory illness activity, and while influenza cases are slightly decreasing from the holiday week, they could jump again.

"It is a significant increase compared to last year's activity. We didn't really hit the 'very high' category at all," said Tom Haupt, the influenza surveillance coordinator for Wisconsin DHS. "This is a nationwide trend we're seeing."

Haupt said it's possible the influenza spike during the holidays was not yet this season's peak -- 9.1% of emergency department visits between Dec. 21-27 had a flu diagnosis.

That number dropped 1% the week of Dec. 28-Jan. 3, but Haupt believes the return to school and work after the new year will cause cases to jump again and potentially hit their peak.

"We usually average the last week of January or first week of February, although we have had peaks before Christmas and we've had some peaks that go into late March," he explained. "Historically, we're probably right on schedule for what we're looking at."

Flu diagnoses are especially high for children this season, and flu-related hospitalizations are rising for those 65 and older.

Dr. Hashim Zaibak, the founder of Hayat Pharmacy, tells us his pharmacists are distributing twice as much Tamiflu -- the antiviral prescribed for high-risk flu cases - than this time last year.

With more concern about rising cases, Zaibak is also seeing more people come in to get their flu shots.

The current influenza vaccine is less effective than previous seasons due to a new mutation in this year's virus, but doctors say it will still provide some protection.

With this season's uncertain peak, Zaibak said It's not too late to get vaccinated.

"That is the best tool we have today in order to reduce the risk of flu. It's the best," he said. "Some people use zinc, some people use vitamin C, but the only product we know for sure lowers the risk is the vaccine itself."

Wisconsin DHS is also watching RSV cases closely, especially for children and seniors. Current RSV activity is low, but Haupt said cases are slowly increasing and could spike at any time.

Click here to see the latest respiratory virus data in Wisconsin.