Flu season begins in Valley

By Aimee Staten, managing editor
Published on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 1:13 PM MST

This year's flu season started with the usual cough and a sneeze recently, but local doctors and county health officials are warning that this year's strain is particularly virulent.

Lines of Gila Valley residents queued up at the doors of their doctors and the county health clinic starting on Oct. 20 after an alert was sent out by the State Health Department that there could be a flu epidemic this year. By Nov. 14, the county's adult immunization vaccine was exhausted. Darla Hansen, Graham County Public Nurse, said, "The Vaccine for Children program is trying to locate more vaccine, but it remains to be seen if they will be successful in this effort."

Influenza, more commonly known as the "flu," is a highly infectious disease of the lungs that can lead to pneumonia, according to a news release from the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center.

It is spread by coughing, sneezing or even talking to an infected person. Unlike the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and can be life threatening. Initial symptoms of flu and colds are similar, and it can be difficult to tell if a person has the flu or a very bad cold.

According to Patrick Peters of Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, flu symptoms are more severe. "If you have the flu, you will have a sudden headache and dry cough, and you may have a runny nose and a sore throat. Your muscles will ache, you will be extremely tired, and you can have a fever up to 104 degrees," he said.

"Most people feel better in a couple of days, the tiredness and cough can last for two weeks or longer," Peters wrote. People cannot have "stomach flu." Symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are uncommon with the flu, except in very young children, Peters said.

Following are some of the best ways for people to protect themselves from the flu:

  • Immunize yourself and your child.

  • Wash your hands frequently.

  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

  • Keep your children home from school if they are sick or are running a fever.

  • Do not bring children into the hospital to visit.

    If more flu vaccine becomes available, there are several groups of people who are considered high risk who should be vaccinated against the flu, according to a news release by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. They are:

  • People 50 years and older;

  • Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house people of any age who have long-term illnesses;

  • People 6 months of age and older who have chronic heart and lung conditions, including asthma; and,

  • People 6 months and older who need regular medical care or were hospitalized because of metabolic diseases, chronic kidney disease or weakened immune systems.

    • Copyright © 2008 Eastern Arizona Courier

    Comments

    8 comment(s)

      shawn wrote on Oct 5, 2008 2:49 PM:

      " trust me if you want your kid to be scared for life send him or if you dont love him denton is a lying sicopatick crazy guy who the military screwed up "

      marley wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:11 AM:

      " WHAT ARE U GUYS TALKING ABOUT WERE TALKIN ABOUT MORENCI MINE COMPANY AND U GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME CAMP YOU SENT UR KIDS TO OR WENT TO? "

      concerned parent wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:28 PM:

      " If you really want to get mad about Denton's dishonesty, take a look at his website touting his honesty:
      http://www.jeremynegotiates.com/contact.php and how he cuts down other real estate agents in the "shame" page. Maybe complaints to AZ Dept Real Estate would help. "

      Louis Womack wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:21 PM:

      " Same here. Our son was to attend on June 21, 2008. Camp cancelled and we are out $2900.00. If you have any info or suggestions pleae contact us. Mr. Denton is employed at Signature Realy Group in Tempe. I did make contact with him there. No luck or even a promise of when we would see a refund. This was a planned rip-off. IMHO "

      shawn wrote on Jun 10, 2008 8:48 PM:

      " I actually went to this camp and I can tell you one thing most of the counselors were Indians plus we had one that was crazy and got kicked out of the army we also had a guy who shot a kid with a paintball gun without a mask in the head and they all did drugs at night you could smell it and it wasn't the legal kind and everything they promise was a lie hey a kid almost drowned with the storm and another almost bitten by a rattle snake. if you want to know more shawn-007@hotmail.com "

      Steve Harrop wrote on Jun 10, 2008 12:26 PM:

      " My son was signed up to attend the Aug. 2007 session and one week before camp it was washed out. In Sept. 07 we were told by J. Denton we would get a refund of $3800 within 90 days. No contact since then. As we live in Washington state we don't have any means of getting our money returned. How many other families are in this situation? Is there anything else we can do?

      Steve Harrop
      Winthrop, WA "

      Robyn Pomonis wrote on May 7, 2008 10:31 AM:

      " I too am still waiting for a refund of $3800.00. After months of not hearing from them via phone or email, Jeremy Denton called me in November and promised me a refund "by the end of the year". I haven't heard a word from them since, nor have they responded to certified letters nor contact by the BBB. "

      Elissa S. Stewart wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:38 PM:

      " My son was supposed to attend the cancelled Operation Noble Eagle on July 29, 2007. I am still waiting for a refund of the $3800 I paid in tuition on November 28, 2007. Jeremy Denton will not commit to a refund date, although he originally assured me I would have one within 90 days. I can provide copies of the emails I have sent and received trying to obtain a refund, and proof of the $3800 I paid ($500 on my credit card for a deposit, and $3300 in the form of a check). "

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