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First flu case in two years hits Hill County

Omicron COVID virus variant being studied, surge continues across U.S.

With another surge of COVID-19 hitting the nation and likely to hit Montana soon, the state - and Hill County - now have cases of influenza as well.

Hill County Health Department reported Monday that the first influenza case of the season has been confirmed in the county, with a total of 11 cases confirmed in the state since the start of the 2021-22 flu season Oct. 1

Of the 11 cases, eight occurred in residents of Gallatin county primarily among college-aged people. One case has been confirmed in each of the other counties with confirmed cases, Hill, Flathead and Jefferson counties.

Officials have been urging people since the pandemic started to keep up on their influenza vaccinations, concerned that with hospitals struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic an influx of influenza cases could be a disaster.

In the 2020-21 influenza season, the number of flu cases in the country dropped and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reports that no laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Montana with no flu-related deaths or hospitalizations.

Health officials have speculated that the measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 - wearing masks, avoiding large groups, regularly washing hands and staying home if ill - likely reduced the spread of influenza last year.

Aside from vaccination, pandemic-reduction measures have been reduced - largely eliminated in Montana.

Officials have urged everyone eligible to get a flu vaccination as well as a COVID-19 vaccination and booster to avoid what is being called a "twindemic" - a surge in flu cases as well as COVID.

None of the Montana influenza cases so far this year have resulted in death and none have required hospitalization.

The recommendations on the flu mirror those for COVID-19.

"The best way to protect yourself and others against seasonal influenza is by getting your flu shot," Hill County Health Officer and Hill County Health Department Director Kim Berg said in the release about the flu case. "Other protective measures you can take include washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and staying home when you are sick."

A COVID surge likely

And numbers of COVID cases are rising in the country, as they have been worldwide, as scientists study a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, the omicron variant first identified in southern Africa.

Parts of the United States are seeing a major surge in cases, with some states seeing an increase of 70 percent to 80 percent in the past two weeks.

Numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and active cases are down in Montana right now - Hill County reported three new cases confirmed Saturday through Monday with four active cases and Blaine County reported nine new cases Friday through Monday with 21 active cases, while the state reports Liberty County with two active cases and Chouteau County with seven. But the state so far has followed the national trend with a delay of a few to several weeks. A surge in Montana in the next few weeks is likely, with officials citing colder weather and people staying indoors and in larger groups as likely causing more cases.

And the new variant is being closely monitored. After it was identified in several countries in southern Africa in the midst of a surge there, many countries including the United States have imposed travel restrictions on that part of the world to try to slow the spread of the variant, but it has been identified in several countries outside of Africa already.

Concerns have been raised that it may be more likely to cause breakthrough infections - infecting people already vaccinated - and may cause more serious illness. Scientists around the world are studying the variant to find out its characteristics.

Initial evidence suggests that it may be more contagious - possibly including more breakthrough infections - but not likely to cause more severe symptoms and that the vaccinations seem to reduce its impact even in breakthrough infections. Study of the variant continue.

No cases of the variant have yet been confirmed in the United States, but in remarks Monday President Joe Biden said it is just a matter of time - the travel restrictions should help slow the spread but will not stop it, he said.

Biden said he had three messages about the variant.

"First, this variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic," Biden said "We have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, the best scientists. And we're learning more every single day."

He said the world is learning more about the omicron variant every day and the United States will share what it learns as it learns it.

Second, he said, adding that he knows people are tired of hearing him say this, is getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster shot when eligible.

He also said people wearing masks when indoors in public settings will help protect the people wearing the masks and the people around them.

"Third, in the event - hopefully unlikely - that updated vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to this new variant, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool," he said. "I want to reiterate: (Presidential Chief Medical Advisor) Dr. (Anthony) Fauci believes that the current vaccines provide at least some protection against the new variant and the boosters strengthen that protection significantly."

People have many options locally to get the COVID vaccination and boosters.

In Hill County, vaccinations are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care's Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or its Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy, 406-265-9601; Gary & Leo's Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins; Walmart,; and the Rocky Boy Health Center 406-395-4486.

Vaccinations are available in Blaine County through Blaine County Health Department, 406-357-2345, and Fort Belknap Health Center by calling the public health nurse at 406-353-3250 or the pharmacy at 406-353-3104.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588.

People can call Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517 to schedule a vaccination.

 

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