Name: Families face flu as Tampa Bay doctors see more cases around holidays
Uploaded: 2025-12-30T03:11:54.748Z
Duration: 2 min 25 s
Description: Dr. Timothy Hendrix, the Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Centra Care, said they’re seeing a huge number of patients coming in with flu right now.

Dr. Timothy Hendrix, the Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Centra Care, said they’re seeing a huge number of patients coming in with flu right now.

Florida

Doctors in the Tampa Bay area are reporting a significant rise in flu cases, with the Florida Department of Health noting increases in over 75% of counties. Families are experiencing widespread illness, and clinics are seeing a high rate of positive influenza tests.

Medical professionals emphasize that while the current flu virus has mutated, making the vaccine somewhat less effective, vaccination is still recommended. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt antiviral treatment are advised to help manage the illness.

Families face flu as Tampa Bay doctors see more cases around holidays

As we move along next here tonight to our cover story and the flu is surging across the country. This is a map from the CDC and you can see the flu activity is rising while florida's case numbers remain low. The florida Department of Health is tracking an increase in case numbers in more than 75% of counties and tonight Tampa Bay 28 reporter Mary O'Connell with what doctors say you can do to protect yourself and others. Christmas has come and gone yet sickness in some families has overstayed its welcome. Callen jones has the flu and it's swept across their whole family. It hit me and it was one of those where we all knew what was going to happen. So five of six of us aren't great. Um so we've had a couple positive influenza a tests. Unfortunately everybody else is getting better and I am not jones tells me coughing body aches and fatigue are just a few of their symptoms. Last week when I was here, when I tested positive, they said that every flu test they had done last week was positive. I checked in with dr Timothy Hendricks, the chief medical officer for Advent Health Centra care. He said they're seeing a huge number of patients coming in with flu right now. We're seeing a rapid increase week to week in the last three or four weeks of influenza cases. So we're at about 2000 cases of influenza just last week at our florida central cares. You might have also heard about a super bug. Dr Hendricks explained what that is. It is the flu. But what's different about it this year is that the vaccine that we've been administering since the fall to prevent influenza, the virus that is out there has mutated where there may be some escape from our immune system from that immunity that we get with the vaccine. Now it doesn't mean that your vaccine isn't effective. It just isn't as effective. I asked dr Hendricks if it's too late for people to get the flu shot. He told me no, that they're still giving flu shots and you're recommended to get one. Even though you're concerned that it may not be as effective, it still is effective. Dr Hendricks said influenza classically is that rapid onset of fever and recognizing early that you have influenza is important so you can get started on an antiviral like Tamiflu. If you're sick, I hope you feel better because this is not fun in Tampa. Mary O'Connell, Tampa Bay 28

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