Have you noticed a surge recently in the number of people calling out sick?
You might have noticed it at work or from your children at school: a surge in the number of people calling out sick . As we near the end of flu season , what’s causing this? WGAL anchors Lori Burkholder and Tasmin Mahfuz spoke to Dr.
Peter Kang, associate medical director with UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care, about what's going around. Full interviewWGAL anchors: First of all, let’s talk about what you’re seeing in urgent care right now and the types of illnesses you’re seeing.Dr. Peter Kang: Thank you for having me. In urgent care right now, specifically at UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care, we’re really seeing three major viruses driving a lot of recent visits: COVID-19, RSV, and influenza.WGAL anchors: So, a little bit of everything. Is it too late for people to go out and get a flu shot right now? It’s weird to think about that in March. Usually you think October or November. What do you recommend now?Dr. Peter Kang: Absolutely not. If you have not received your 2025 flu shot yet, I would encourage you to get it. It is the most effective way to prevent severe consequences of the flu. Interestingly, while we saw a huge spike of influenza A during January, we are now seeing a slight increase in influenza B cases, which is driving some visits to the centers.WGAL anchors: I guess it’s sort of always around, though we tend to think about it in the winter months. But the CDC says flu activity is still elevated across the nation. Even though it’s starting to ease a little bit in a lot of places, including in our state, it doesn’t mean these viruses are gone. So how do you explain that to viewers?Dr. Peter Kang: One of the challenges we’ve seen is the unpredictability in weather. We’ve had some warm days, but we’ve also had some cold days. When we have those cold days, we tend to congregate inside together. And when you gather indoors, that creates a great environment for spreading respiratory diseases.WGAL anchors: Yeah, like incubating it all. So when should someone actually go to the doctor versus saying, 'I can just stay home, drink fluids, and rest.' How do you differentiate between the two?Dr. Peter Kang: If you’re otherwise healthy, staying at home and resting is probably your best bet. But if you’re not feeling better after a week, I do encourage you to see a doctor. However, if you are under the age of 2, elderly, or have a condition that may compromise your immune system, you’ll want to see a doctor as soon as possible. We do have effective medications we can use against influenza and COVID-19 that can reduce the severity of symptoms. If you’re in one of those patient populations, you’ll want to seek treatment as quickly as possible.WGAL anchors: The key there, Dr. Kang, is getting attention right away. Do you advise that if you’re starting to feel these symptoms, you should take one of those at-home tests from the drugstore?Dr. Peter Kang: Absolutely. You can get those tests at one of our urgent care centers or even at your primary care doctor’s office. If that’s not available to you, then yes, there are several over-the-counter tests you can get at a pharmacy that can help.WGAL anchors: So what should people do right now to protect themselves? I know washing your hands is important. Any other advice?Dr. Peter Kang: The general hygiene we always recommend includes washing your hands, wiping down high-contact surfaces at work or at home, covering your mouth when you cough, and generally practicing good hand hygiene. It’s easy to get lax this time of year because you think you’re sort of out of the woods, but it’s always good to pay attention to those warning signs and to protect others if you’re sick.WGAL anchors: Dr. Kang, thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate your time.
CDC COVID-19 RSV Antiviral Treatment At-Home Tests Calling Out Sick Children Under 2 Cold Weather Elderly Elevated Flu Activity Flu Season Flu Shot Hand Washing Immune System Indoor Spread Influenza Influenza A Influenza B Respiratory Disease Transmission Respiratory Illnesses Seasonal Viruses Symptom Severity Urgent Care When To See A Doctor Dr. Peter Kang Wgal Urgent Care Visit Influenza Virus Home People Covid-19 Lot Recent Visit Doctor Work Flu Other Advice?Dr Flu Shot
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