Flu cases on the rise in Southern Oregon

Nov. 29—Flu cases are spiking in Southern Oregon, according to the latest influenza data from the state.

Southern Oregon health care providers recorded 295 confirmed flu cases Nov. 13-19, according to the latest Oregon Health Authority Flu Bites report issued Monday.

The 295 cases more than tripled the 97 cases reported the week prior, according to the OHA report, which draws from data voluntarily submitted to the Centers For Disease Control from health care providers including Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center Laboratory in Medford, Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls and Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg.

The 295 confirmed cases stem from 1,544 tests in the region this flu season, giving the region a test positivity rate of 19.1%. All but one of those 295 cases were found to be the Influenza A strain.

The test positivity rate more than doubled that week. For comparison, the week of Nov. 6-12 had a rate of 9.7% based on 97 cases out of 1,005 tests, according to last week's report, which draws from CDC data submitted through the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System.

Southern Oregon's 295 cases constituted 20.15% of the state's 1,464 confirmed cases as of Monday. Three of those statewide cases were found to be Influenza B, with the remaining cases confirmed to be the Influenza A strain.

Calls and emails to Jackson County Public Health were not immediately returned Monday afternoon.

Statewide, health officials tracked 10 influenza outbreaks that week, up from four the previous week, according to the latest report. Some 3.1% of the 1,464 cases across the state were emergency room visits for influenza-like illness.

The region with the most positive tests was the Portland Metro area with 646 cases — 13.6% of the 4,738 tests submitted, according to the state report. The highest percentage in the state was the Columbia Gorge area, with 27.8%, some 160 cases out of 575 tests.

Statewide, the latest data from the CDC's Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network data shows Oregon at "High" levels of activity, with neighboring states Washington and California both at "Very High."

The report noted declines in influenza immunizations across the state compared with the prior seasons, which it partly attributes to an overlap in COVID-19 booster recommendations with the peak flu immunization times.

"Generally those getting a COVID-19 immunization by itself are unlikely to return later for a missed influenza immunization," the report states.

Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.

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