The state Department of Public Health is asking Iowans no to let their guard down — even though the flu season has been relatively mild. Department medical director, Patricia Quinlisk, says flu cases have show some upturn in the last several days.
She says the flu season has been kind of late, and they’ve seen the cases go up lately in children in schools. Quinlisk says everyone should still take precautions to prevent spreading the flu.
Quinlisk says the flu season isn’t over yet, and parents are reminded that if their child is sick, keep them home so that they don’t spread it to others. Quinlisk says it’s hard to predict how tough he flu season will be.
Quinlisk says there’s no easy way to tell as a lot of things make a difference, such as the weather, humidity, whether the flu is spread among children or among the elderly.
Quinlisk says if you are worried about getting the flu, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. She says it is late in the season, but she says if you have a school-aged child and are worried about them getting the flu, talk with your doctor about getting them a flu shot.
Quinlisk says children can be sick for five to seven days and in some cases as long as 10 days if they catch the flu.