Urgent care clinics see recent spike in flu cases

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - We’re less than a couple days from January 1, and if the flu season is anything like it was last year, we’ll be seeing a spike in flu cases here in Alabama soon.

The parking lot at KidsStreet Urgent Care in Pelham was packed Sunday afternoon.

Folks there said they’ve seen more flu cases just within the last couple weeks.

At all MainStreet Family Care and KidsStreet Urgent Care clinics throughout the state, they’ve seen about 1,000 positive flu cases in December alone. And they expect that number to increase.

Betsy Stewart with MainStreet Family Care said they saw one of the worst flu seasons this past January.

Right now, flu activity is currently considered "regional' in Alabama. That’s one step below the worst category - “widespread.”

Be sure you are washing your hands constantly to avoid spreading germs.

“Just in the last two weeks, we’ve seen over 80 positive flu cases in both Oneonta, Moody and Talladega,” said Stewart. “Being around relatives, it’s just another excuse for germs to share with each other and go back and forth. It’s absolutely prime travel season and prime time to get sick.”

Those clinics are open late and will be open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

MainStreet Family Care is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

KidsStreet Urgent Care is open from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekends.

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