MOULTRIE, Ga. — After a seemingly mild 2018-2019 flu season, Colquitt Regional Medical Center has seen a recent influx of flu cases.

In the first week of March, the Emergency Department treated 66 confirmed cases of the flu, the hospital reported Wednesday. Of those, 56 patients tested positive for “Type A” flu, and 55 of the flu-positive patients were under the age of 17. The cases confirmed at Colquitt Regional do not include any flu tests taken at outpatient clinics, but Sterling Physician Group clinics have seen a rise in confirmed cases as well.

“We are cautioning people to not let their guard down when it comes to the flu,” said Colquitt Regional CEO Jim Matney. “Preventative measures are being encouraged to everyone to decrease the transmission of the flu and masks are readily available at main entrances for those visiting loved ones at Colquitt Regional.”

While this flu season has been less severe than years past, the public should continue to be vigilant in the fight against the flu, a hospital spokeswoman said. In addition to practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in homes, schools and offices can also deter infection.

The CDC recommends several tips for fighting the flu such as getting vaccinated, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering mouths and noses when sneezing, and not touching eyes, noses or mouths.

Gail Sparkman, BSN, RN, CIC, infection prevention manager at Colquitt Regional stressed the importance of proper hand hygiene.

“It is so important to wash your hands with soap and water frequently,” she said, “and if that is not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the next best thing. We are also encouraging people to stay home if they think they have flu-like symptoms unless it is necessary to seek medical attention.”

Colquitt Regional is a 99-bed medical center located in Moultrie.