By CRAIG FREILICH

There have been 93 confirmed influenza cases so far this season in St. Lawrence County, and authorities say the actual number is likely much higher.

Among the confirmed cases, flu “A” accounts for 61 percent and 39 percent are flu “B” cases, according to county Department of Public Health Director of Prevention Services Laurie Maki.

The figures come from the state Department of Health compilation of cases as of the week ending Dec. 27 and reported Friday, Jan. 2.

But the 93 cases don’t show the whole picture, Maki said.

Those are only the cases where the medical professionals have drawn blood, sent it for analysis, and the analysis has confirmed the presence of the flu virus.

“The actual number of cases is much higher,” Maki said, and as the flu spreads this season, physicians will actually be sending fewer blood samples for analysis and confirmation.

At this point in the season cycle, Maki said, “when cases are widespread, doctors know it’s here and they know the symptoms,” so testing and confirmation diminish in importance and the emphasis is on treatment.

The 93 cases in the county are well more than triple the number of cases as of the week ending Dec. 13, when 25 cases had been confirmed in the county. The number of cases reported weekly has been rising since early October, the start of the flu season.

Maki emphasized three points for residents of St. Lawrence County: prescription anti-viral medications can help in the treatment of flu; in spite of some reports, there is not a shortage of those anti-virals; and reports circulating that the current vaccine will not work are false.

During the course of a flu season, one or more of the viruses might change slightly, or “shift,” and the way the flu vaccine has been formulated for that season might not be as effective as was hoped.

But Maki emphasized that “even if vaccine effectiveness is reduced against the drifted circulating viruses, the vaccine will protect against non-drifted circulating vaccine viruses.

“Further, there is evidence to suggest that vaccination may make illness milder and prevent influenza-related complications.

“The protection is possible because antibodies created through vaccination with one strain of influenza viruses will often ‘cross-protect’ against different but related strains of influenza viruses,” Maki said.

Due to the “drifting” or changing of the virus strains, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an advisory on the importance of the use of antiviral medications when indicated for treatment and prevention of influenza, as an addition to vaccination. The two prescription antiviral medications recommended for treatment or prevention of influenza are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

When indicated, antivirals should be initiated as soon as possible after illness onset. Clinical trials and observational data show that early antiviral treatment can:

·shorten the duration of fever and illness symptoms;

·reduce the risk of complications from influenza (e.g., ear infections in young children and pneumonia requiring antibiotics in adults); and

·reduce the risk of death among hospitalized patients.

There has been some concern expressed by members of the public about a shortage of antiviral medications, but the NYSDOH is saying there is not a shortage.