Health officials say this flu season is shaping up to be one of the more severe in recent years.
Early data are indicating this should be a pretty rough flu season and every county so far in Pennsylvania has seen reported cases.
“This year, in particular, this season seems to have started pretty early. It usually it spikes around January, February.” Said Karine Thevenin-Smaltz, a physician with Patient First.
But this year’s flu season is already here, in a big way.
Doctor Smaltz says the Patient First on Jonestown Road has already seen a spike in Flu cases, with about half of its patients complaining of symptoms.
But it’s not just here it’s all over the US.
This map shows that about 41 states are already seeing intense levels. And the flu can be life threatening, so doctors recommend you take precaution.
These are the symptoms of the flu: a headache, body ache and fever that comes on fast and hits hard.
If you get the flu, it’s recommended you stay hydrated and stay at home until the fever breaks. But, of course the best action you can take is prevention: doctors recommend you wash your hands regularly and, if you can, get vaccinated.
Smaltz says if you get the flu shot, it will give you a little bit of protection for every strand of the flu. “Even if the strain that’s circulating is not necessarily covered in the vaccine, you will get some protection from the vaccine even if the strain is different.”
The Farm Show is offering free flu shots all this week if you’re looking for one.
Early data are indicating this should be a pretty rough flu season and every county so far in Pennsylvania has seen reported cases.
“This year, in particular, this season seems to have started pretty early. It usually it spikes around January, February.” Said Karine Thevenin-Smaltz, a physician with Patient First.
But this year’s flu season is already here, in a big way.
Doctor Smaltz says the Patient First on Jonestown Road has already seen a spike in Flu cases, with about half of its patients complaining of symptoms.
But it’s not just here it’s all over the US.
This map shows that about 41 states are already seeing intense levels. And the flu can be life threatening, so doctors recommend you take precaution.
These are the symptoms of the flu: a headache, body ache and fever that comes on fast and hits hard.
If you get the flu, it’s recommended you stay hydrated and stay at home until the fever breaks. But, of course the best action you can take is prevention: doctors recommend you wash your hands regularly and, if you can, get vaccinated.
Smaltz says if you get the flu shot, it will give you a little bit of protection for every strand of the flu. “Even if the strain that’s circulating is not necessarily covered in the vaccine, you will get some protection from the vaccine even if the strain is different.”
The Farm Show is offering free flu shots all this week if you’re looking for one.