Flu cases on the rise in Lancaster County

Flu cases 15 times higher than last season, with four months to go

LANCASTER, Neb. (KLKN)- Flu cases are on the rise this year, in fact, some cities in Nebraska are seeing 100 times more cases this year than last year.  Flu season typically runs from October until April.  Last flu season, Douglas county reported just 5 cases of the flu, this season they already have over 500.  Lancaster County is also seeing much higher case numbers.

“We have 333 cases of flu reported to us this year so far. It’s just beginning, we expect that number to go up. That’s in comparison to last year when we had very little flu. We had 21 cases reported for the whole flu season last year,” said Tim Timmons Lancaster County Health Department Communicable Disease.

As of Thursday, there are no patients in Lancaster County hospitals with the flu.

“We know it’s here, what we don’t know at this point is how severe it will be,” said Timmons.

Tim Timmons says the best defense against the flu, is the flu shot.

“Given our situation with COVID, it will also help the community if we can keep people out of hospitals because the hospitals are stretched already,” said Timmons.

In anticipation of higher demand, Relycare Pharmacy ordered a much larger shipment of the flu vaccine and ordered them earlier than in years past.

“If you haven’t had your flu shot, it is absolutely not too late. We will continue to vaccinate up to April if we need to,” said Steve Osenbaugh owner of Relycare Pharmacy.

The owner of Relycare Pharmacy in Lincoln is noticing that after the release of the COVID vaccine, more people are staying on top of all vaccinations, especially the older population.

“Flu shots this year compared to 2020 has been a much brisker market for the flu shot. People have been very much more interested in obtaining the flu shot. We have been doing a lot of flu and COVID vaccines at the same time.  Our older generation have also been after the newer pneumonia vaccines also,” said Osenbaugh.

At most locations, you don’t even need to schedule an appointment.

“If you need the flu shot, just come in anytime and we will get you vaccinated,” said Osenbaugh.