Do you know a lot of people who are getting sick? That may be because Sedgwick County is in the height of flu season.
December saw an 8% increase in influenza-related emergency department visits, which is a higher increase than the county saw that same time in 2023. Flu season usually sees its peak from December through February, but every flu season is different, the county said.
The uptick in flu cases is common this time of year with the end of holiday season. In fact, in a November interview with The Eagle, county health department director Adrienne Byrne said that the county was expecting a rise in cold and flu cases “through January at least.”
Statewide, the CDC says Kansas’ level is “very high” for the spread of respiratory illnesses.
The uptick in flu cases led to Ascension hospitals in Wichita to impose temporary visiting restrictions, which asks those who are experiencing cold and flu symptoms to not visit the hospital until their symptoms have subsided for 48 hours.