Louisiana is already reporting some of the highest flu rates in the country, and with Mardi Gras season approaching, health officials were bracing for an increase. Now, an extended Arctic blast is adding a new layer of concern.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. MarkAlain Déry says the prolonged cold is forcing people indoors, thus creating the perfect environment for respiratory illnesses to spread even faster.
“Over the last couple of weeks, influenza has been the primary complaint we’re seeing,” Déry said.
Dr. Déry explains that what used to be a secondary diagnosis is now taking center stage.
“There was a time when people came in for something else and we found a respiratory illness secondarily,” he said. “Now, flu is the main reason people are coming to the emergency room.”
With freezing temperatures expected to continue into next week, Déry says infection rates could spike before Mardi Gras even gets into full swing, raising concerns about an already strained healthcare system.
“When people are clustered inside because of the weather, those rates can climb quickly,” he said. “
Dr. Déry says standard prevention measures remain critical: frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, and vaccination, but he suggests adding another layer of protection.
“You may want to consider wearing a mask,” Déry said. “Especially if you’re the one who’s sick, so you don’t spread it to anyone else.”
While there’s no call for panic, Déry says caution is key until warmer weather returns.
“We’re going to have to be careful until the weather breaks,” he said.
Health experts say the combination of cold weather, indoor crowding, and major events makes the coming weeks an important time to stay mindful of symptoms and protect one another.