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Not too late to get flu shot

Nationally, most states are now reporting regional to widespread flu activity.

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However, “we have not observed a significant increase in the number of ILI (influenza-like illness) cases or outbreaks” in the district, Ortiz-Garcia said of local health officials.

Flu symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion and cough.

The flu continues to spread across Iowa. This year’s vaccine provides a close match to the circulating H3N2 flu strain, and will also provide protection against influenza B, which often appears later in the season. Documents from the agency call the flu “widespread across Ohio”.

High-risk populations such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions such as heart and lung disease and diabetes, are particularly vulnerable to serious complications. “There have been 11 outbreaks thus far during the current flu season, compared to 10 for the whole season past year”.

Contra Costa Health Officer Dr. William Walker recommends that all individuals six months of age and older be vaccinated against influenza.

Doctors say the flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. The majority of those people are 64 years of age or older. Fresno County residents with insurance coverage should contact their health care provider regarding flu vaccination availability.

In the 2014-15 flu season, which was another hard one, there were 922 cases reported as of the second week of January, according to Zahn. You can take additional steps to ward off the flu by coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow and avoiding touching your face.

“There are no flu vaccine shortages across OH”, de Fijter said.

For more information about influenza and flu activity in OH, click the “More Information” link on this page.

If you’re holding out to get the flu shot, pharmacists are saying it’s better late than never.

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Positive tests for the flu and hospitalizations have recently gone down, officials said, but flu activity remains high in Pierce County.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH