Doctors urge more testing as Flu cases surge across Central California

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The flu is inactive making its mode astir Central California.

"If you instrumentality the 1st period and a fractional of the year, we ourselves astatine Saint Pediatrics person seen a 300% summation of flu cases," Dr. New Sang with Sang Pediatrics said. "And that is beauteous atrocious due to the fact that the flu tin crook into pneumonia."

Dr. Sang has respective clinics successful Fresno and besides treats young patients from Clovis.

He tells Action News astatine his clinics they've done much flu tests this year.

"We've done astir 1,800 flu tests this twelvemonth compared to past year, erstwhile we did 1,100 conscionable successful the archetypal 45 days. And truthful again, our positivity complaint has accrued from 8 to 16 percent," Dr. Sang said.

That investigating tin not lone assistance supply a much close diagnosis but besides springiness a amended outlook connected what different viruses are affecting people.

RELATED: "Unprecedented" numbers coming into Community Health exigency rooms

Whether that's the flu, RSV oregon COVID.

"We utilize an 'Abbott Id. Now' instrumentality which we bought during the pandemic, due to the fact that it gives america a truly close speechmaking connected how, connected what we're really challenged with," Dr. Sang said.

Dr. John Zweifler, with the Department of Public Health successful Fresno County, says they're seeing affirmative flu tests astatine implicit 20 percent successful the region and statewide.

"At immoderate section hospitals reportedly astatine Kaiser, person to 30 to 40 percent. So precise prevalent successful our assemblage close now," Dr. Zweifler said.

He adds wastewater surveillance helps show microorganism levels.

On apical of the spike successful affirmative flu tests, determination has besides been an summation successful exigency country visits.

"Because we are seeing truthful galore cases, our exigency rooms are precise crowded, truthful we don't urge everyone spell in," Dr. Zweifler said.

Doctors accidental if you are feeling sick, enactment home. They are besides urging you to get your flu shot, if you haven't done truthful already.

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