Doctors: Ebola Fears Making People Forget About Flu Dangers
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - While the talk of Ebola is just about everywhere, doctors are trying to get the word out about another virus -- one they say could create a "crisis in the community."
Workers at clinics across North Texas say the preoccupation with Ebola could actually cause crowded emergency rooms in coming weeks, but not because people have Ebola.
Workers at the All Care Medical Clinic are trying to get the word out to their patients to prepare for flu season. This flu season it's harder to get the influenza message out than in past years, because doctors and nurses are busy answering questions about Ebola.
Clinic director Dr. Rick Enlow wants everyone to know, "The early symptoms of Ebola mimic the flu."
The end of summer and beginning of fall usually always has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the media focusing on flu immunizations, swine flu or bird flu.
But Dr. Enlow says that isn't the case this year. "Nobody is coming in talking about flu. If they're coming in talking about anything they're talking about Ebola."
Clinic and hospital workers say they're worried the public preoccupation with Ebola will cause people to ignore getting their flu shots. Ironically, it's the combination of inattention to shots and worry about Ebola that could lead to a larger problem -- people with the flu who think they have Ebola.
"The ER's are going to be filled with all these people wanting to make sure that they've got just the flu," Dr. Enlow said. "That's where you're going to create a crisis in the community."
While doctors don't underestimate the viciousness of the Ebola virus they say the greater threat to public health, by far, is influenza.
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