Northwest Iowa — The flu season got off to a slow start in northwest Iowa, as well as other parts of the state, due to warmer than normal December temperatures.
The Medical Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says flu activity is picking up statewide with the recent colder temperatures.
Quinlisk says flu can be fatal, especially to groups like the young and the elderly, who are more susceptible.
She says that, while there have been no known flu deaths here in northwest Iowa, the known flu deaths that have happened involved two middle-aged adults in central Iowa, one middle-aged adult in eastern Iowa, and an elderly adult in central Iowa. Quinlisk says the flu vaccine is the best way to keep from getting sick.
If you haven’t gotten the flu vaccine, and think you may be coming down with the flu, Quinlisk says you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Quinlisk says you can still get a flu shot now and be protected. And she says stresses again some simple things to prevent the spread of the flu.
Contact your health care provider or local health department to find out where you can get the flu vaccine in your community or use the Flu Vaccine Finder at www.flu.gov.
