Northwest Iowa (Radio Iowa) — Today (Friday, September 22nd) is the first day of fall, and winter is still weeks away, but cases of the flu are already showing up in some parts of the state.
Health Department Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says they’ve seen a handful of cases and it’s a sign to begin preparing.
Doctor Quinlisk says it takes up to two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop full protection against the flu virus — so it’s a good time to take the precaution before flu cases really get heavy.
Quinlisk says it’s too early to say how severe the flu season may be — but one indicator is the flu season in the southern hemisphere.
She says getting the flu shot is one way to lessen the impact of the flu.
Quinlisk says the flu shot does keep the sniffles and sneezes from becoming more serious.
The high-risk groups include: pregnant women, children, adults aged 65 years and over, and people who have certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease. Doctor Quinlisk says good hygiene also is important in preventing the flu.
She says the flu vaccine is plentiful this year, and you shouldn’t have any problem finding a place to get vaccinated.
