Arkansas ranks 3rd for most active influenza cases

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) – If you do not want to get vaccinated against the flu, you may want to, Arkansas now ranks third among the most influential nations in influenza.

The latest Walgreens influenza index indicates the number of Tamiflu prescriptions, which identified the Little Rock and Pine Bluff area.

The Arkansas Department of Health told KATV that they are not surprised to see this high ranking for the state.

"We do not have the best rates of flu vaccination in this part of the United States," said Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, medical director of immunization at ADH.

Dillaha attributes the high number of influenza cases to a mutation of H1N1 to H3N2 viruses.

"The H3N2 virus, which is circulating now, has a slight difference, so although the vaccine works very well against the virus, it's not perfect, so we're seeing breakthroughs," she added. .

So far, 63 Arkans have died as a result of the flu. Although this number is well below that observed by the Ministry of Health last year, health experts hope that more people will be vaccinated.

"People who get the flu shot can still do it and people need to understand it. We want the vaccine to be more effective than it actually is, but we know that the vaccine, even when people get the flu, can give their immune system a head start. . "