Looks Like, Sounds Like, Smells Like… Flu

Everyone’s coughing, everyone’s sneezing and no one knows if this a common cold? Is this the flu? Is this the coronavirus that has hit Memphis? What’s the deal?

Tough question. So, to begin with, we’re at a point right now where the CDC has labeled areas like Memphis, in fact, most of the country as being widespread with flu. We’re endemic. So, what that means is that you actually don’t test for the flu anymore.

The reason for that is the flu test is so insensitive, it’s almost 50/50. It can guide your treatment early in the course of the flu season but once we’re at this endemic stage, if it looks like flu, and sounds like flu, and what did you say? Smells like flu?

It’s flu. And we’re going to go ahead and prescribe anti-flu medicine for you. Now, the second part of that question is the interesting part also and that is – is this something else, like coronavirus? You can get private COVID-19 testing in Memphis at ZüpMed’s drive-through or an exam room.

Seek Medical Care

If you have questions, if you’re feeling like you have a flu-like illness, it’s best to contact your provider and we’ll go from there. If you’re not feeling well, let our family serve your family at ZüpMed.

Yeah, let me add also that if you don’t have your flu shot yet, there’s still plenty of time to do so. It does take a week or two for [the shot] to kick in and to give you full protection, but the reality is, is that it’s the number one thing you can do to protect yourself.

Remember, we’ve had almost 22 million cases of flu with 12,000 deaths. Those are crazy numbers and we’re right now as we’re doing this video, we’re only halfway through the season. We’ve got a long way to go.

Several months left. Take care of yourselves, be careful. Get a flu shot.

Come see us.

Posted by ZüpMed