It is no secret that this flu season is bad, and getting worse, and Douglas County is no exception.
We are just starting to hit the peak of flu season with the number of reported cases of the flu in the month of January being the highest in a decade. The Douglas County Health Department says roughly 3,000 confirmed cases have been reported so far this season, with 1,918 cases in January alone. Statistically January, February and March are the months with the most reported cases, so we could be in for a few more weeks of coughing, fevers and body aches.
The spread of influenza is so bad at one metro school, their Superintendent decide to call off classes on Wednesday. Lifegate Christian School has a population of roughly 330 students and about 100 of those students were not in school this week due to the flu. Superintendent Dan Diercks says thankfully students were going to be off Thursday and Friday for parent-teach conferences, so he thought cancelling classes on Wednesday would be a smart move. Teachers and staff worked diligently on Wednesday to get the school disinfected before students return on Monday.
To alleviate some of the pressure on hospitals and doctors offices, Nebraska Medicine are offering walk-in hours at two of their clinics. Dr. Scott McPherson says they're seeing lots of patients through their doors at the Clarkson Family Clinic. "People are just kinda worked in during the day. Not everybody that walks in actually has the flu, but we do treat them and examine them and make sure."
The Nebraska Medicine walk-in flu clinics are open at the Chalco Clinic from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the Clarkson Family Clinic from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.