BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
There's been an unusual rise in cases of the flu this season. The spreading virus has been sending people across the country to the emergency room.
"We report numbers that are reported to us from emergency rooms, of illnesses that look like influenza. Those numbers, right up until the week before Christmas, were going up. Some weeks it was 0 to 4, that's the most recent. Other weeks they were 5 to 25," Dr. Bob Travnicek of The State Health Department said.
Travnicek says those fluctuating case numbers are the characteristics of an epidemic. Though the cases have been on the rise for a while, we aren't in the clear just yet. Now, you'll want to protect yourself and your family.
"Influenza does basically knock you off your feet. This is the biggest one we've had in 10 or 20 years. This is huge nationwide, not just here. Those people (who caught the flu) will tell you they'll never forget the minute they got sick," Travnicek said.
The center for disease control and prevention recommends you get your flu shot sometime in October or November. Hopefully you've been able to do so, as flu season continues all the way through April. Doctors say if you haven't been vaccinated, it's not too late.
"The best thing they can do is get their flu shot. Yes, it is a little late. They should of done it a month ago or maybe more, but a lot of people are really late. So is it too late? Probably not too late. You're going to have to just stay home and remember to get your flu shot," Travnicek said.
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