Influenza still has a strong hold on people from the very young to the very old in Northwest Iowa.  We talked to doctors in LeMars who continue to have patients testing positive for the flu daily.

This week I talked to an E.R. Physician at the Floyd Valley Hospital Avera in LeMars, Iowa. Dr. Sheila Holcomb says although the Iowa State Epidemiologist says influenza numbers peaked in the state 3 weeks ago, they are still seeing a lot of patients with the flu.

Influenza A and Influenza B are still side lining a lot of folks in Plymouth County in all age groups.

Dr. Holcomb say, "The people most likely to be hospitalized are the very very young. We had an infant as young as 6 weeks already admitted to the hospital for influenza and the elderly. "

She advises you to check on your neighbors to make sure they are doing okay if they are elderly.

Dr. Holcomb says strep throat and gastroenteritis have also been making a surge in the last couple of weeks and people should know you can get it over and over again because they are all different strains of virus.

Dr. Holcomb says, " That's true. In fact I had a 6 year old on Friday who tested positive for Influenza B back in February. She came back in on Friday and tested positive for Influenza A."

Dr. Holcomb says she doesn't expect flu numbers to really decline until Easter break, when the kids are home and away from each other.

And that's what's going around this week in the LeMars area.