RBC I Doctors in Rangely and Meeker have had inquiries regarding cases of the flu versus colds and strep this season, and Margie Joy, the community relations director for Pioneers Medical Center and executive director of the Pioneers Medical Foundation, reported Monday that the situation is normal.
Joy confirmed that there have been cases of flu, colds and strep in Rio Blanco County but that as far as Pioneers Medical Center is concerned, “We aren’t seeing any increase in the number of cases of flu, cold or strep.”
“We’ve had very few test positive for the flu, and we are about on par with normal regarding cases of the flu,” she said. “We also have had about the normal number of strep cases, so it is amounting to about a normal year.”
Joy said it is still being recommended by the health care field that persons should be getting their flu shots soon as possible to prevent cases that can show up until early spring.
“Flu shots are available at the hospital and I am pretty sure that county health still has the vaccine,” Joy said.
“As to pneumonia or other shots, I would say that if in doubt ask your personal physician,” she said.