First flu case of the year confirmed

Iowa has its first confirmed case of the flu. Epidemiologist Dr. Tom Boo says the influenza virus was confirmed in tests at the state lab in Iowa City. He says it’s a schoolgirl in northwest Iowa, though with sporadic cases throughout the country the virus was bound to show up in Iowa. The disease is most dangerous to babies, people with immune system disorders or previous illness, and the elderly. Dr. Boo says we’re all at risk for getting influenza and schools are a “hotbed” of spreading the virus, so kids may be the ones who bring it home to the rest of the family including those high-risk patients. There’s still time to get a flu shot though it will take a short time for it to become available — with plenty of vaccine still available, the doctor says he’s glad he got his shot just earlier this week.