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Flu season is still going strong in New Jersey and the rest of the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). In fact, the latest data from the NJ health department shows flu activity remains high in all regions of the state, and emergency room visits and hospital admissions continue to top the three most active flu seasons in New Jersey history at this time of year.
With influenza peaking in New Jersey now, Levinson Axelrod, P.A. would like to remind our clients and communities about the importance of flu prevention, and the steps you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy, by sharing information circulated within our own firm from our very own Attorney Rosemary E. McGeady, M.D.
A Board Certified Physician who enjoyed a 20-year career in Internal Medicine & Cardiology prior to becoming a lawyer, Attorney McGeady took the time to remind the Levinson Axelrod team about flu season and steps to take both in the workplace and at home. Below is a copy of the information she shared:
“Influenza in NJ is peaking now.
Levinson Axelrod strongly suggests that every employee speak to his or her doctor about getting the influenza shot.
IF YOU DEVELOP FLU SYMPTOMS– High fevers, headache, muscle aches, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and / or nausea – there are several steps you can take to safeguard your home and your workplace.
Your doctor can prescribe TAMIFLU. Tamiflu, when taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, has been proven to decrease the intensity and duration of symptoms and improve mortality.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE FLU – If a family member or coworker is diagnosed with the flu, particularly if you have a peculiar sensitivity to respiratory illness such as asthma, your doctor can prescribe TAMIFLU as prophylaxis to prevent you from developing the flu. If treatment is elected, TAMIFLU should be started within 48 hours of exposure to prevent clinical influenza.
Should you be diagnosed with influenza, keep in mind the potential for infection you pose to other coworkers. Please stay home. Consider, if you feel comfortable doing so, informing your supervisor so that close contacts at work can be notified and discuss prophylaxis with their doctor.”
Flu season is inevitable, and a significant cause of lost productivity in the workplace. While the dominant flu strain this season is Influenza B, which typically causes less-severe illnesses than Influenza A-strains such as H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2, it can still cause a host of unwanted symptoms, and pose the greatest risks to the elderly, individuals with compromised immune systems or respiratory conditions, and children, according to the CDC. Of the nearly 4,000 cases of Influenza B reported throughout New Jersey this flu season thus far, at least two have resulted in flu-related pediatric deaths.
Although we do not intend for this information to serve as medical advice, we do hope it helps remind everyone that the flu is still going strong in New Jersey. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, a parent, or someone who wants to stay healthy, taking the right precautions can make a difference.
You can find more information about flu prevention, symptoms, treatment, and flu activity nationwide on the CDC website.
Rosemary E. McGeady, M.D.is a Board Certified Physician and Licensed Attorney who leverages her medical background to serve victims of medical negligence and nursing home abuse in complex medical malpractice claims across New Jersey. Her insight and experience in both the medical and legal fields have made her an invaluable advocate for our clients at Levinson Axelrod, P.A.