Flu season in full swing in Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky-It’s official…it is now flu season in south central Kentucky and we’ve not only seen flu cases in south central Kentucky but all across the state.

That means sniffling, sneezing and coughing. Along with the fever, aches and pains that go along with the flu. But the volume of flu cases is rising quickly. The latest numbers show more than one-hundred eighty cases in Kentucky since early August.

And while short-sleeves haven’t even been put away yet, the large number of flu cases are somewhat surprising even for healthcare workers.

Sharon Ray, a communicable disease nurse at the Barren River District Health Department says flu season started earlier than usual this year and the number of cases is running high for this early in the season.

Flu season officially started this week and it runs through mid-May. That may seem like a long time to try and avoid getting sick but prevention is the key to staying well.

Dr. Heinro Van Zyl, a physician at Tristar Greenview Regional Medical Center’s emergency department says the centers for disease control and prevention recommends the flu shot as the best way to prevent getting the flu and to avoid developing complications such as pneumonia or upper respiratory infections. There are also antiviral medications to treat the flu.

All these early cases of the flu means it’s even more important to take the right measures to stay healthy this cold and flu season, with a flu shot, hand washing and proper nutrition.