logo
Login Subscribe
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Google Play App Store
Main, news
April 23, 2025
Strep is running rampant
By LYNN ADAMS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

You may notice more people wearing masks these days, but it’s not necessarily because of a resurgence of COVID-19. It’s because of strep throat.

“Strep is running rampant,” Northeastern Health Systems Sequoyah hospital administrator Stephanie Six told the Sequoyah County Commissioners at their weekly Monday meeting.

“For the past week, [strep] seems to be the one thing that’s going on with a lot of respiratory patients coming through [the hospital],” Six elaborated following the meeting. “I don’t know if it’s because of allergies and people aren’t treating their allergies and that it’s moving into something more serious, like strep.

“Of course, strep is contagious. People are out and about with the weather and wanting to get out and do stuff, so I think that’s adding to it at this point. And people are gathering more,” she said. “It’s just kind of running rampant right now.”

Six explained that wearing a mask “would absolutely” help limit spreading the bacterial infection as well as contracting it from others, because “strep is droplets, so it is respiratory.”

A person with strep throat is most contagious during the ini-tial days of illness. And while there are several symptoms, Six says one of the primary indicators is fever.

“Especially if you’ve got a fever, you need to stay home until the fever’s gone. Even a lowgrade fever, you’re still contagious right now. So the more we can keep people home with that fever, the better off we are,” she says.

Six says an ounce of prevention is worth the proverbial pound of cure.

“Just staying away from crowds of people” is the best way to avoid contracting strep throat. Then “if they have something going on respiratory-wise of any kind, make sure you get treatment early and treat your symptoms.”

Key symptoms of strep throat include:

• Sore throat

• Pain when swallowing • Fever

• Red, swollen tonsils

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth

• White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils

• Possible rash In addition, other possible symptoms are:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Stomach pain Strep throat is typically diagnosed with a throat swab test, and antibiotics are the standard treatment. While strep throat can sometimes resolve on its own within a few days, it’s generally recommended to seek medical treatment with antibiotics, as it can lead to complications if left untreated.

“You’re going to need a round of antibiotics and, usually, seven to 10 days on the antibiotics. But after a couple of days, once your fever’s gone, you’re no longer contagious,” Six explained.

“We used to see more younger people with strep, but right now, it’s a lot of older people, I’ll say middle-aged,” she said.

Six said it’s difficult to predict how long strep will be a concern because the current outbreak is “really kind of abnormal, so you can’t really tell on that.”

“It’s a little bit higher than we usually see,” she said in an attempt to compare it to previous years. “We just went through Covid, so I don’t even know what is normal at this point.”

Six said there have been several reported cases of strep throat in neighboring counties.

Lake bridge to close for demolition
Main, news...
Lake bridge to close for demolition
September 17, 2025
The Tulsa District U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has announced that the Hwy. 100 bridge over Tenkiller Lake Dam’s main spillway will close on October 6 for demolition and replacement. The Corps said the...
this is a test
Main
Town of Vian take over fireworks show
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
September 17, 2025
The Vian Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting on August 18, addressing a full agenda that included community projects, resignations and routine department reports. One of the key actions ta...
this is a test
Main, news...
Webbers Falls repeat offender receives 10 years
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
September 17, 2025
A Webbers Falls man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after investigators found he was once again in possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), nearly two decades after a prior c...
this is a test
Main, news...
Gideon Miller vs. Town of Gore
September 17, 2025
The town of Gore issued a public statement last week, informing its citizens of the outcome of Case No. CV-2024-25, Gideon Miller vs. Town of Gore. On September 11, Sequoyah County District Court ente...
this is a test
Main, news...
Crime rates drop sharply across District 27 counties
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
September 17, 2025
Crime rates have fallen dramatically across District 27 over the past eight years, according to the latest data from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investi...
this is a test
Fireworks explosion survivor returns home from hospital
Main, news...
Fireworks explosion survivor returns home from hospital
By LYNN ADAMS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS 
September 17, 2025
Brad Lewallen, the firefighter who suffered severe burns in the July 2 fireworks explosion and fire July 2 at the Choctaw Nation capital grounds in Tuskahoma, was expected to return home to Cherokee C...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
news
Webbers Falls hosting Bingo
September 17, 2025
The comminity is invited to play Bingo at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, at the Freedom Hall Event Center in Webbers Falls. Cost is $20 to play, with limited concession items available for purchase...
this is a test
Quinton: A life full of adventure and memories
news
Quinton: A life full of adventure and memories
By JADE PHILLIPS INTERN 
September 17, 2025
Don Quinton, 84, has lived in Vian just about his entire life. Born in a log cabin not far from town, Quinton grew up with his mother and nine siblings, which included five brothers and four sisters. ...
this is a test
news
Ritter family reunion set for Sept. 27
September 17, 2025
The annual Ritter family reunion will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, at the Blackgum Community Building, located at 449458 OK-100. This marks at least 33 years of reunions f...
this is a test
news
Cherokee Art Market Youth Competition seeks submissions
September 17, 2025
Native students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to submit their artwork for consideration in this year’s Cherokee Art Market Youth Competition, held virtually. Artists will compete for $2,500 within two...
this is a test
news
CASC reports strong enrollment growth for fall
September 17, 2025
Carl Albert State College (CASC) is proud to announce a significant increase in enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester, reflecting the college’s ongoing commitment to accessible, affordable, and highqu...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

VIAN TENKILLER NEWS
Address: 603 W. Schley Vian, Oklahoma
Phone:+1 918-773-8000

news@bigbasinllc.com

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Vian Tenkiller News

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy