Flu Season is About Half Over

Flu Season is about half over. That’s probably not the best of news for those weary from the yearly virus.

 Dr. Matt Young at the Texarkana Emergency Center, “We’re currently in the middle of our flu season.”

Flu Season typically runs from late October to early May in the Northern Hemisphere. The good news is, the peak usually occurs in February.

Dr. Matt Young at the Texarkana Emergency Center, “We’re currently in the middle of our flu season.”

Schools around the Four States area have been especially hard hit in late January into this month. Most school districts around the area have seen a high number of absences due to the flu and other similar illnesses. Several school districts actually have cancelled classes due to the virus. By closing, the districts hope to break the chain of spreading the virus. Plus it gives the janitorial staff a chance to deep clean the district’s campuses.

According to the Centers for disease control and prevention, flu is widespread and considered high activity across a large swath of the country. Particularly hard hit are most southern states, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas.

If you are one of the unfortunate ones and come down with the flu, early detection and treatment can be very important. Get to your health care provider a soon as possible. They can run tests to see if it is indeed the flu, or another illness. This will allow them to give you the proper medication to try and cut down on the length and severity of your illness.

Further the CDC says that there are three strains of the flu virus making the rounds this season. They include Influenza A (H1N1), Influenza A (H3N2), and Influenza B.

The CDC says there are symptoms that help you realize whether it’s the flu or a bad cold.

Symptom onset with the flu is usually abrupt, while gradual with a cold. Fever is rare with a cold, but common with the flu. While you can be slightly achy with a cold, you are normally very achy with the flu. Headaches are usually rare with the flu, but common with the cold virus.

A couple of symptoms that can be found in both, include chest discomfort and cough, which moderate with colds, and can be severe with the flu. The other would be fatigue and weakness. It is usually associated with the flu and sometimes when you have a cold.

The flu can be serious for anyone who contracts the virus. It is considered very dangerous for the elderly, the very young, or people with underlying health problems.

Things to cut down on the chances of catching the flu include staying away from people with the virus. Also, washing your hands often, and avoid touching your face particularly your mouth, nose and eyes.

If you have the flu, officials say to stay home. If you go to work, school, or out in public, you’re going to advance the spread of the virus.

For more on the flu you can go to the CDC website.