Flu season is here

Flu season is upon us and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are urging folks to get their flu shot as soon as possible as it is the best way to protect you and your family from the flu.

The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from the flu or spreading it to others, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain long-term health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

This year, the CDC is recommending the flu shot, not the nasal spray vaccine. The nasal spray is not nearly as effective as the injectible shot. Children as young as six-months old can get the vaccine.

Each year the flu shot is updated to cover you from the latest strains predicted for the season, so this year, along with A/Hong Kong and B/Brisbane, A/Michigan strain has been added.

You should get the flu shot before the virus starts spreading and Hot Springs County Public Health recommends you don’t wait until its too late. They currently have enough of the vaccine as they order the current year’s supply based on last year’s numbers.

Red Rock Family Practice also has the flu vaccine on hand and have confirmed 10 cases of the flu at their Worland clinic and cases have been reported in Sheridan as well.

Red Rock also said flu shot clinics at both Vicklund Pharmacy and the pharmacy at Shopko have been a big help in reaching the community, leaving the clinic with plenty of vaccine on hand.

While its hard to predict exactly when the flu season will begin and when it will be over, the CDC indicates it generally begins as early as October or November, seems to peak between December and February and is mostly finished in April or sometimes as late as May.

The elderly and young children are most succeptible to the flu, and for them, it can be the most deadly.

Between 140,000 and 710,000 people are hosptalized with the flu each year. The average number of deaths from the flu each year is around 12,000 people.

Along with getting your flu shot, there are other things you can do to protect yourself and those around you, like washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. Stay away from those who are sick, and if you are sick, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading it to others.

So how do you know if its just a cold or really the flu?

Well, the flu generally infects the respiratory tract, your nose, throat and lungs. As the infection increases, it can trigger a cough and sore throat along with fever, muscle and body aches. While some of these symptoms can also be attributed to a cold, the flu symptoms come on quicker and with more intensity.