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Flu widespread, severe: How to protect yourself and others

Flu shots at Children's Hospital
Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota Medical Assistant Brittany Williams gives a flu shot to Oliver Sherman, almost 12 months old, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 in St. Paul, Minn. Oliver's parents took him to receive the flu shot before traveling and visiting family during the holidays.
Yi-Chin Lee / MPR News

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This year's flu season is hitting hard. With the number of cases soaring, some Minnesota hospitals are restricting visitors--with the tightest restrictions coming in the southern part of the state.

The Centers for Disease Control has also said that certain strains of influenza have mutated leaving the vaccine somewhat ineffective.

On The Daily Circuit, two guests answered questions about the current flu season.

Q: What's the latest outbreak information for Minnesota?
A: Officials use several different numbers to monitor the spread of influenza in the state, including outbreaks in schools and long-term care facilities. For the week ending Dec. 13, 203 schools reported outbreaks, which constitute at least 5 percent of students building-wide or three elementary students in one class out with flu-like symptoms. There were 19 schools that reported outbreaks last week.

Eighteen long-term care facilities reported outbreaks, up from four the previous week.

Q: A school in Mendota Heights closed to sanitize due to an influenza outbreak. Does that work?
A: According to the Centers for Disease Control, influenza can only last on hard surfaces for two to eight hours. Kristen Ehresmann, director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division of the Minnesota Department of Health, said on The Daily Circuit that her department doesn't recommend the closure and deep cleaning of schools for flu outbreaks. That decision is up to the schools and districts, she said, but it is not recommended on a public health basis. It could be the best choice for a school that has a large percentage of students absent and getting behind in classroom instruction.

Q: I heard the vaccine isn't protecting people from the dominant strain infecting people right now. Should I still get it?
A: Ehresmann and Dr. Pritish Tosh, Mayo Clinic's infectious disease expert, recommended you still receive the vaccine, if you haven't already. The vaccine could lessen symptoms if you do get the flu and having a higher vaccination rates among the youngest and oldest residents could lessen the spread of the virus.

Q: Where can I get a flu shot?
A: Check flu.gov for a clinic near you.

Q: I received the extra-strength influenza vaccine for people 65 and older. Does that protect against the current strain?
A: No vaccines this year contain protection for the h3n2 subtype.

Q:Who is most at risk?
A: Most of the deaths are in older people, Tosh said. It's also dangerous for people with underlying medical problems or poor immunity.

Q: I have flu-like symptoms. Should I get an anti-viral medication like Tamiflu?
A: Probably not. Our guests say these drugs are overused and should be saved for people at high risk of complications from the flu.

Q: My wife has the flu. What can we expect?
A: Tosh said healthy people should be better in five days, but underlying conditions could experience complications that lengthen the illness. Tosh recommends a lot of rest and fluids for otherwise healthy individuals.