Area hospital sees spike in flu cases

It's that time of year. Illnesses like the cold and flu are spreading across Eastern Iowa. Area emergency rooms are being inundated with patients suffering from coughing, runny noses, and sore throats.

”I have a two month old and we think he has pneumonia. He has all the symptoms,” said mother Sheena Stocero. So Stockero brought her son Ryan here, the emergency room at St. Luke's Hospital's. “They told us he's very congested and sinus stuff was going around,” said Stockero.

And baby Ryan's not alone. It's been a busy week or so at St. Luke's. “We've definitely seen an increase in influenza in the community, particularly to our younger children and elderly folks,” said St. Luke's Hospital Dr. Julie Beard. Dr. Beard says this time of year is prime time for airborne illnesses. “We seem to see a lot of viral illness, RSV, influenza,” said Beard.

It's a late winter spike in cases. But it's not nearly as much as 2010 with the scare of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. “I think people have been very good about getting their vaccinations and that's really decreased the outbreak we saw last year,” said Beard.

Doctors say the best way to eliminate the spread is by hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough. They expect the spike in illnesses to wrap-up when winter ends.