By Donnelly Clare

Wisconsin health officials have reported twice as many flu cases as last year, with four reported deaths so far.

Health departments from all over the nation are seeing a drastic rise in flu cases- and flu- related deaths.

Officials in Boston on Wednesday declared a public health emergency, where 18 flu- related deaths have been reported- the same number of deaths reported a Pennsylvania. Indiana has reported 10 deaths so far, and officials in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin reporting sharp increases in admissions for patients with the flu- so much so that hospitals as close as Milwaukee are turning people away.

That likely won’t happen in Stevens Point, according to officials at Ministry St. Michael’s Hospital.

“We made it through the swine flu and never turned patients away,” said Dr. Ralph Locher, a pediatrician who specializes in influenza at the hospital. “I don’t think we’ll see anything like that here.”

Locher said so far the number of flu cases is “worse than average”, with at least twice the usual number of reported cases locally, but added last year’s flu season was particularly light.

Flu prevention is not brain surgery, he said. According to hospital recommendations, common sense is the way to go: frequent hand- washing, avoid touching your face, general good hygiene and avoidance of sick people, in addition to getting a flu shot, is the best way to not get sick.

Locher said the current vaccine is a good match for this year’s strain.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there,” he said. “You don’t get the flu from a flu shot, and there aren’t any serious side effects.”

“It’s really vital to get a flu shot; it’s the most important thing you can do to prevent this.”

For those who brave the season without a vaccine, Locher said there’s still help available.

“There are a couple of things to keep in mind; we have an anti-viral medication that works pretty well for this,” Locher said. “If you’re getting sicker on that first day, you should be seen right away. You have to be seen within the first 72 hours for it to work.”

Locher also said patients with severe symptoms should try to see their regular physician, as opposed to hitting the emergency room, as many will reserve time each day for urgent care patients.

This year’s vaccine is a cocktail of three vaccine viruses, including one for H1N1. Officials from the CDC say it’s “pretty close” to the this year’s strain.

According to county health records, Wisconsin had 389 flu- related hospitalizations. This year, nearly 800 hospitalizations have been reported, with 2,837 confirmed cases.