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Rays Fever Aside, Health Officials Stock Up For Flu Season

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

TAMPA - If it seems more and more people are calling in sick this past week, it isn't because of any sweeping epidemic, health officials say. More than likely, it's the "blue flu."

Translation: Tampa Bay Rays late night games.

The Rays are one win away from capturing the American League pennant. They've scored three wins — some decisive, some stomach-churning — over the Boston Red Sox this past week, including one game that lasted until 1:30 a.m.

"The flu epidemic could get a lot worse with these late-night games," quipped Warren McDougle, epidemiology program manager at the Hillsborough County Health Department.

That may be the reason of people calling in sick, he said, dashing what previously may have been considered solid excuses for being sick.

"We're not getting any reports of any kind of outbreaks," he said, meaning legitimate health issues.

The Florida flu season officially began on Sept. 28.

"It's just the start of that season," he said. "It's allergy season as well."

Physicians in the area keep track of people who come in with flu symptoms and report them to the health department or to the Centers for Disease Control, McDougle said. So far this year, none have reported any significant number of cases, he said.

"Right now, we are at a level that is sporadic," he said. "We have one or two recent cases here and there; nothing widespread."

Since August, doctors in the area have reported just four flu cases, he said.

Flu shots are available through the health department and in several pharmacies. There is plenty of vaccine to go around, McDougle said.

"The more people who get shots," he said, "the better we are going to be."

Here are some numbers from the health department:

•6,000: the number of adult doses ordered during the 2007-08 flu season.

•2,000: the number of doses administered at the USF College of Public Health free flu clinic.

•3,627: the number of doses administered at all the health department clinics and outreach sites.

•2,064: the number of pediatric doses ordered in the 2007-08 flu season.

•1,897: the number of doses administered to youths between 6 months to 18 years.

•5,000: the number of doses ordered for the current flu season.

•3,000: the number of pediatric doses expected this year.

•917: the number of adult doses that have been administered since Sept. 28.

Some local pharmacies are also in the business of administering flu shots, Walgreens and CVS drug stores in particular.

Both pharmacy giants have offered flu shots in the past. Different stores offer shots on different days. Prices range from $25 to $30 and are free for people with Medicare.

Some stores have walk-in clinics on site and offer flu shots any time. The Walgreen's on the corner of Busch Boulevard and North 56th Street is one such location, store manager Rafael Lee said.

"We can do that," he said. This is the first year pharmacists have been trained to administer shots, he said. In years past, health care professionals were brought in to give the inoculations.

CVS pharmacies mostly are offering shots on particular days, said Alicia Moran, pharmacist assistant at the store on the corner of West Kennedy Boulevard and South Dale Mabry Highway. Some stores have clinics that offer shots all the time, as well, she said.

"We've been doing this for two years," she said. "We had 50 or 60 people last year."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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