Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The emergency departments report seeing more flu patients in the last 30 days.
Mary Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) has seen a 15 percent increase in flu patients at its three emergency departments within the last 30 days, Debbie McInnis, director of Public Relations, told Patch. The hospital has a flu policy and plan in place. "We follow the latest flu information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health to assist us in making decisions relative to where we are in the plan," McInnis said. "The latest flu information from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health indicates flu in the Fredericksburg region is quickly becoming widespread," she said. The hospital has moved to 'yellow status' to help protect patients, visitors and associates. "When we are in …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Local flu rates are already high, according to Google trends. Here's where to get an influenza vaccine, how to recognize symptoms and what to know about treatment if you get sick.
According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase across the country. In Virginia, flu levels are already high. If you're considering getting the vaccine, all CVS/Pharmacy locations offer vaccines, as do many Safeway stores and other grocers that have a pharmacy. Look up where to get a flu shot in Fredericksburg here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information:
Flu activity in Virginia is already high, according to Google's Flu Trends.
Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States: At this time last year, flu cases were much lower in Virginia than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. Overall in Virginia, activity is considered high and heading quickly toward an "intense" rating. Activity is similar in DC. It was considered moderate at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. Flu activity is strongest in the South and southeastern United States, according to a recent release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also offers this information and tips about avoiding influenza this winter: If you still need to get a flu vaccine, here's where you can get a flu shot in the Fredericksburg area.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
As the flu season begins in the off line world, do your part not to spread internet 'germs' in the online world.
How many of these posts have you seen on your Facebook wall? Did you know that all of these are either false or misguided readings of the facts? How many have you shared yourself? I will confess that in reading through dozens of posts of my Facebook wall or in a crowded newsfeed on my Twitter account, I have hit 'like', 'share' or 'retweet' on something that was probably too shocking, too unbelievable or too easy to be true. Tale as old as time None of this is new. People have shared gossip and rumors face-to-face, by telephone, over radio call-in shows, via regular mail, via email, via graffiti and who knows, probably by telegraph, carrier pigeon and message in a bottle. Before Facebook posts there was chain mail, and after that email …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Sometimes the best medicine is rest.
Maybe it was the change in the weather, that guy’s hand you didn’t want to shake or the recirculated airplane air or that someone just coughed in your face. Any way, you got sick. You are now one if not all these characters from Snow White - Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy... and Cough-y and Fever-y. Your first instinct may be to grab the Anti-tussive to get rid of the cough, anti-histamine to reduce the mucus and antipyretic to get rid of the fever. There is, of course, one problem with this: you are now fighting your body from making you healthy rather than fighting the bug that’s invaded your body. Humans have been fighting invading bugs ever since the beginning. Your body is trying to fight whatever bug you have managed to acquire, and …
