MEMPHIS, TN – The seasonal flu -- not the swine flu, but the typical virus – is on the rise across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more people are visiting the doctor with flu-like illnesses, and that’s more than expected for this time of year. Doctors believe that trend is headed to the mid-South. They expect cases of flu-like illnesses will hit the area hard in the next few months, and they say the public underestimates how serious it really is.
“We're now in a period where the H1N1 has decreased dramatically and we expect a resurgence of the flu - both seasonal flu and H1N1 down the line,” said Dr. Bryan Simmons, of Methodist University Hospital.
Seasonal flu cases have increased dramatically nationwide, but doctors believe the public doesn't take it as seriously as H1N1.
“People have forgotten the non-H1N1, the regular seasonal flu, can also be deadly,” said Dr. Susan Besser, of the Baptist Minor Medical Center.
She said she's treating more cases of the seasonal flu, cases that started during the summer. That's why she wants the public to “understand the seasonal flu shot does not protect against H1N1."
"Also, the H1N1 shot does not protect against the seasonal flu," she pointed out.
Simmons said that message becomes increasingly important as the new year approaches.
“Everybody believes that when the conditions are right, that is, when it gets real cold, and everybody's deep in school sometime in January, we should see more H1N1 and also more seasonal flu at that time,” he said.
