As Hawaii enters flu season in October, the state Department of Health already has reported a slight uptick in outpatient visits from influenza-like illness.
This week, 4.1% of outpatient visits were tied to influenza-like illness, which is higher than both the historical baseline for Hawaii at just below 2% and the national baseline listed around 2.5%.
Since October 2021, there have been 2,164 positive influenza cases in Hawaii, with a majority occurring in the under-1 age group.
“As expected, we are seeing a resurgence of common respiratory viruses, such as the common cold, as people relax mitigation measures including masking, social distancing and limiting group size,” said DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr.
According to an influenza surveillance report released by the DOH on Friday, Hawaii already has had eight influenza-like illness clusters during this year’s flu season, mainly attributed to Influenza A, or the most common form that results in fever and chills, sneezing, coughing and a sore throat.
With symptoms similar to COVID-19, the best way to distinguish the two is through testing, although symptoms like loss of taste and smell are more often attributed to those with the novel coronavirus.
“We have investigated several reports of possible influenza/respiratory illness clusters on Hawaii Island but have not found evidence of flu outbreaks,” Baehr said.
Both Hilo Medical Center and Hawaii Island Community Health Center reported either a small increase or no noticeable change in flu cases so far this year for Hawaii County, but encouraged residents to receive flu shots to mitigate a potential spread.
In 2020, roughly 41.1% of Hawaii residents between the ages of 18-64 received a flu shot, according to Hawaii Health Matters data. Flu shots help to protect the 400,000 people that are hospitalized each year and the 22,000 who die due to influenza across the country.
A 2021 study published in the medical journal Vaccine found flu shots tend to be between 26% and 32% effective at lowering the risk of being admitted to the ICU and dying from the flu, compared to unvaccinated adults.
Both flu shots and the new COVID-19 bivalent boosters can be received during the same appointment, depending on availability.
“Getting your flu shot when you get your COVID booster is a great idea,” Baehr said. “You can get both shots in the same arm. Or, you can get a jab in each arm. Either way works.”
Longs Drugs will be hosting a drive-thru flu shot clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Prince Kuhio Plaza along Maka‘ala Street. Those ages 3 and up will be accepted, and Longs will also offer pneumonia, shingles, Hepatitis A and B, and other select vaccinations, as well.
Flu shots also are available throughout the Big Island at Longs KTA Super Stores, Walmart and other pharmacy locations.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.