Amada Baldovinos 
Rio Grande Valley – Cameron County has taken precautions to help prevent the spread of Influenza after the number of cases risen in the valley.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu cases often begin to increase in October reaching their highest number between December and February.
Cameron County reported a total of 265 influenza cases last month in comparison to 2021, where only 15 cases were reported by the end of October in the U.S. Influenza Surveillance reports.
“People were both isolated initially and then wearing masks to a greater degree, both of those helped to keep influenza transmissions down,” said Scott Spear, professor of pediatrics and medical director for student and employee health.
On November 2nd, no flu-related deaths were reported in Cameron County, but measures are still being taken to help control the spread of the virus.
“We do track influenza outbreaks in facilities such as schools, shelters, nursing homes, so if there is an outbreak which is 3 or more cases, they are in communication with us, and then we do the proper surveillance, we provide preventative measures, and how to medicate the flu outbreak,” said Ashley Ruiz, public health preparedness director.
According to Dr. Spear, flu vaccines are recommended in order to reduce the chances of getting sick and spreading the virus, he also explains the differences between covid-19 and flu symptoms.
“Generally, influenza you get, you have a more immediate onsite of your symptoms; higher fevers, shaking chills, muscle aches, those are more typical for influenza, but they can be very similar, they can include coughing, sore throat, and congestion, usually you don’t have a loss of sense of taste and smell,” said Spear.
UTRGV offers pop-up clinics where students can get the flu vaccine for free, for more information call the UT-Health Center at 956-665-2511.
