Jefferson County clinic swamped with sickness

Jefferson County clinic swamped with sickness

By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter

JEFFERSON CITY (WATE) -- Jefferson County schools are out Monday and Tuesday because of illness and local clinics are swamped.  

Express Health Clinic in Jefferson City is the only one in the area open on Sundays and it was busy from open to close. 

It's still early in the season, but a steady stream of sick patients is keeping nurse practitioner Giovanna Stramiello on her toes.

"We've been quite busy. We've seen 16 patients in just a few hours here," Stramiello says.

Most have similar symptoms.

"We're seeing a lot of strep sore throat and a lot of influenza," she says.

But, she says, just because you have flu-like symptoms, doesn't necessarily mean you have the flu.

"There are also a lot of upper respiratory viruses going around that are not influenza, but they can cause people to be very sick just as well," she says.

Illness is affecting the entire community, and Stramiello says shutting down the schools should help stop the spread.

"It will give those that already have been ill time to be away and be at home and possibly prevent others from becoming ill as well," she says.

But even once this round of sickness is under control, she says, it certainly isn't the end of road for the flu.

"Unfortunately, even though we're in what some have said is the peak of the swine flu, the regular influenza season is just around the corner," she says.

Two schools in Fentress County will also be closed for illness, but Monday only. South Fentress Elementary and Clarkrange High School have canceled Monday classes.