State health officials say a late surge of the flu is hitting Iowa. State Epidemiologist Patricia Quinlisk says it’s a little unusual. She says they track a lot of things, and so far this year they haven’t seen a lot of flu activity. Quinlisk says things have heated up in the last couple of weeks.
Quinlisk says they’re seeing more people going into emergency rooms and clinics and there’s more schools with outbreaks. She says it’s starting to look like we’re hitting peak flu season, which normally comes in late January or early February, but this year is coming in late February. Dr. Quinlisk says there are still flu shots available and it’s worth it to take advantage of them.
Quinlisk says they’re starting to see children getting hit and she says you can get your child a flu shot and beat the peak of the flu season which looks like it will be here in two weeks. Quinlisk says it’s fairly easy to tell if you have the flu or just a common cold. Quinlisk says a cold has symptoms of the neck and above, a cough, sore throat.
With the flu she says you have symptoms below the neck, things like aches and pains, sore muscles, you’re really tired. Quinlisk says if you get severe symptoms of the flu, contact your doctor immediately.