Doctors Have Warned That Flu Season In Oklahoma Has Started Early And Is Hitting People Hard
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Ashley
Author
Not to put a damper on all this holiday cheer, but unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has warned that the U.S. winter flu season is off to its earliest start in more than 15 years, including here in Oklahoma. Doctors all across the state are reporting the flu is hitting people hard. So far, a total of three people have died and over 113 have been hospitalized in Oklahoma this season.
Unfortunately, it looks like the flu is hitting early and hard this year. The last time the flu virus ramped up this early was the 2003-2004 season. Some experts are saying this means there's going to be a lot more suffering this year and to be prepared. The virus that is mostly being seen by doctors is unusual because this strand typically isn't seen until March or April.
The early start suggests a lot of people may be sick at the same time, said Dave Osthus, a statistician who does flu forecasting at Los Alamos National Laboratory. "This could be a precursor to something pretty bad. But we don't know," he said.
The early start suggests a lot of people may be sick at the same time, said Dave Osthus, a statistician who does flu forecasting at Los Alamos National Laboratory. "This could be a precursor to something pretty bad. But we don't know," he said.
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Doctors and the CDC still say it's not too late to get your flu shot. They say it's too early in the season to predict how well this year's vaccine is performing. Check with your local Walgreens or doctor to get your flu shot (if recommended by your doctor)...it's better to be safe than sorry.
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