DeKalb County flu-related 911 calls increased by 60 percent in December, according to statistics collected by American Medical Response. The calls align with a nationwide uptick in influenza cases that health officials say is on track to get worse.
The transports of DeKalb residents with flu-like symptoms peaked at 331 in the month of December, which is a marked increase from flu-related calls in December 2024, said Israel Contreras, manager of EMS transformation and innovation at AMR. The company, which provides emergency medical services in DeKalb and North Fulton, saw the bulk of its calls come from unincorporated DeKalb County.
“What makes it a perfect storm is the lack of effectiveness of the current vaccine and people gathered in the holiday season,” Contreras told Rough Draft Atlanta. “People always experience flu-like symptoms this time of year, but all those factors exacerbated it.”
New Center for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Jan. 5 — for flu activity through the week of Christmas — showed that in some aspects this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history. According to the data, 45 states were reporting high or very high flu activity during the week of Christmas, up from 30 states the week before. CDC estimates that there have been at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
The higher numbers appear to be driven by the type of flu that’s been spreading, public health experts say. One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, is traditionally attributed to the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. However, more than 90 percent of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year’s flu shots. Flu seasons typically don’t peak until January or February, so it’s hard to tell if the vaccination mismatch will continue to lead to an increase in cases.
“The fact that we’ve seen steady increases over the last several weeks without much of a decline or even a flattening would suggest to me that we’ve got the peak ahead of us,” said Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told the Associated Press.
With cases on the rise, AMR is reminding DeKalb residents to be vigilant in public spaces and use discernment when making 911 calls. Wearing a mask and staying home when feeling sick is a start, Contreras said. Additionally, if patients are experiencing a fever, headache, or other mild symptoms, staying at home and taking an over-the-counter medicine is the best option.
“If there’s severe shortness of breath, chest pains, vomiting and you can’t keep fluids down, it’s important to get to the hospital or urgent care,” Contreras said.
In light of other winter-weather emergencies, receiving 911 calls for mild flu-like symptoms could potentially delay other emergency calls, he said.
“Whether it’s cold or warm, the flu cases are going to continue to come,” Contreras said. “Our vaccine would typically just be more protective. It’s important for folks to be hyper aware right now and do what they can to stop the spread.”
Seek emergency care if you have:
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion or severe weakness
• Ongoing vomiting
• Symptoms that improve, then return with fever or worsening cough
For less severe symptoms, some 911 callers may be connected to a Nurse Navigation service for guidance to urgent or virtual care.
Protect yourself: Get vaccinated, wash your hands, cover your mouth when coughing, and stay home when sick. Check on older adults, neighbors, and medically vulnerable loved ones.
Learn more at cdc.gov/flu