The Texas County Health Department has received 17 laboratory-confirmed reports of influenza in the county.
The latest batch of reports came Friday. As of late last week, the department had 30 doses of influenza vaccine left. The Centers for Disease Control is informing healthcare providers to continue giving shots throughout the flu season.
In Texas County, the breakdown of flu cases shows:
2-4 years old – 2; 5-14 years old – 4; 15-24 years old – 5; 65 and older – 4
The Texas County Health Department continues to be in daily to weekly contact with its reporting sites, which include schools, nursing homes, daycare centers and hospital.
Its reports show large numbers of flu-like illness without lab confirmation. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, said Carolyn Bell of the health department. One school district reported 54 students gone from classrooms one day, she said.