MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The weather may be deceptive, with warmer temperatures on the way, but according to the Tennessee Department of Health, flu-like illnesses are on the rise.
The latest Tennessee Influenza Weekly Report by the health department shows Memphis and Shelby County leading the state with hospital visits from flu-like illness.
The Mid-South continues to have some of the top activity levels for the sickness. Arkansas leads the charge with very high activity levels, followed by Mississippi and Tennessee with high activity levels. In Tennessee, four children have died from influenza.
"Flu deaths in children do occur in children with underlying conditions, in the same way that we saw that that's who COVID was really affecting," said Dr. Sandy Arnold, Le Bonheur Division Chief of Infectious Diseases.
However, on a positive note, Arnold can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Sickness rates in the Bluff City are far from where they were during the holiday season.
"Flu rates are actually starting to go down," Arnold said.
The end of February also marks the return to normal for flu season. The previous cycle of flu saw the disease pop up months ahead of time in October.
"We saw a lot before the holidays, and we saw it surge through the holidays, and now we're here in late February and it's starting to drop off," Arnold said.
Still, the Le Bonheur doctor said it is best to be prepared, and to do that, you can wash your hands or get a flu shot to help lessen the severity of the flu. In the event you end up getting sick, you could always stop by your doctor during the first few days of the illness.
"Get yourself tested, and then get a medication," Arnold said. "Medications work best when they're given really early on in the course of illness."