Largest medical group in Idaho reports ‘explosion’ of flu cases in the Boise area
The largest independent medical group in Idaho says it’s seeing an ”explosion” of influenza cases in the Boise area.
Primary Health Medical Group, which has two dozen urgent care clinics in the Treasure Valley, including several in Boise, said in a news release Tuesday that its clinics are reporting a positivity rate of nearly 50%, meaning that half of those tested for the flu have positive results.
The positivity rate is a useful metric for understanding the prevalence of an illness in a given community. Public health experts say a positivity rate of 5% or less indicates control of the spread.
“We’ve had an explosion of flu in recent weeks, increasing to 525 weekly cases around the first of the year,” Primary Health Clinical Director Dr. Ann Weiss said in the release. “Wastewater levels are also high for influenza A.”
The wastewater dashboard for Ada County shows a massive spike in flu cases beginning in December that surpassed the peak the area saw last winter.
Southwest District Health confirmed its first flu-related death last week in Canyon County, in a woman over the age of 50, bringing the total number of flu-related deaths in Idaho this season to eight, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.
Saint Alphonsus is noticing the uptick in its emergency rooms, too.
“Symptoms can vary from person to person, but this year we are seeing high fevers, generalized weakness, significant cough and difficulty breathing,” Brian Kitamura, emergency medicine medical director at Saint Alphonsus, previously told the Statesman.
Covid, cold, RSV cases up too
Weiss said her medical group is also seeing a number of patients sick with COVID-19, common colds and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
The Treasure Valley is suffering a “widespread” whooping cough outbreak as well, the Boise School District told parents and staff in late December. Across the state, cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are up more than 20 times year over year, according to data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Cases have skyrocketed nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The news release from Primary Health urged residents to get the flu vaccine if they haven’t already. The medical group offers the vaccine on a walk-in basis at all of its clinics, and there is no cost with most major insurance plans. A discount is available for patients who self-pay, the release said.
Dr. Christine Hahn, an epidemiologist at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, previously told the Statesman that Idaho’s vaccinations rates are not where they should be. Idaho has the lowest vaccination rates for children in the U.S., according to the CDC.
“We can protect ourselves from lots of different diseases,” Hahn said. “Staying home when you’re sick, covering your cough and all those boring messages that we always put out there, they’re all effective and can help keep you and your loved ones safe.”
