It's still not too late to get a flu shot, according to Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang.
In Hawaii, the flu season can peak in February and in March, unlike the rest of the United States where the flu peaks earlier, he said last week.
"In Hawaii, flu season comes a little later than the Mainland."
In addition to the later flu season, Pang said health officials are encouraging residents to get flu shots because there is an excess of flu vaccines that people can get from their doctors, pharmacies and clinics.
Last year, Pang said, there was a "real blast" of the H1N1 virus in May.
A release from the Department of Health last week said officials are seeing increased influenza reports on the Mainland, although Pang said Hawaii health officials are not seeing anything unusual this flu season in the state.
Fact Box
Who should get vaccinated?
The Health Department advises that those 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu every year. Those who should get the vaccine because they are at greater risk for serious flu-related complications include children under 5, pregnant women, people 65 years and older and people with medical conditions including diabetes and asthma. Also, people who have contact with infants younger than 6 months should be vaccinated, as those babies are too young to be vaccinated.
In addition to getting the flu vaccine, good health habits such as covering one's mouth when coughing and washing hands, can prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory diseases, the Health Department said.
hawaii.gov/health/Immunization/index
But over the past two months or so, he's heard of a lot of people getting sick.
"I heard all kinds of anecdotal reports of people getting sick and coughing," he said. "Some of that may be vog."
For at least the past several weeks, the National Weather Serv-ice has been reporting voggy or hazy conditions over the state, brought by Kona or south and south-easterly winds. Normally in winter, northeast trade winds keep the vog away from the northerly islands.
Vog is caused when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles from an erupting volcano react with oxygen and moisture. In this case, from Kilauea on the Big Island.
Vog can cause headaches and irritation to the eyes and lungs, and it can pose problems for those with asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Pang said that if people have had problems with nausea, vomiting or gastrointestinal issues, it could also be the Norwalk virus, also known as viral gastroenteritis.
About a month ago, there was a Norwalk virus outbreak at the Kalama Heights retirement residence in Kihei, Pang said.
But, Pang said last week that through the management's good work to interrupt the spread of the illness, the state Department of Health hasn't seen a case pop up recently.
Overall, the Health Department advises that those 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu every year. Those who should get the vaccine because they are at greater risk for serious flu-related complications include children under 5, pregnant women, people 65 years and older and people with medical conditions including diabetes and asthma.
Also, people who have contact with infants younger than 6 months should be vaccinated, as those babies are too young to be vaccinated.
In addition to getting the flu vaccine, good health habits such as covering one's mouth when coughing and washing hands, can prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory diseases, the Health Department said.
For more information on where to get a flu shot, visit hawaii.gov/health/Immunization/index.html.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.
