This year’s influenza season is starting early compared to the last two years, as local reports of flu-like illness are on the rise through early December, according to an alert from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.
Erlanger Health System also reported a “significant spike” in flu-like illnesses the first week of December when compared to the same period last year. This year, the hospital reported 74 cases to the county health department during the first week of December, compared to only 15 cases during the same week last year. Ten weeks into the flu season, Erlanger had reported 396 influenza-like illnesses to the health department compared to 245 during the same period last year.
“This represents a 61% increase in flu activity over the same 10-week period last year,” according to an Erlanger news release issued last week.
Health officials are urging area residents to get vaccinated, since the flu season is still in its beginning stages.
“It is not too late to get the vaccine. Flu season extends to May, and the vaccine can provide protection until then,” health department Health Officer Dr. Paul Hendricks said in a news release.