CLEVELAND — The flu season is here early. So early that the strain doctors are seeing is usually diagnosed in the spring.
Dr. Roy Buchinsky, Director of Wellness at University Hospitals says classic flu symptoms are showing up early nationwide. Those symptoms include fever, headache, coughing, and sneezing.
"We’re right now at the very beginning of flu season. It could be a long season, it could go into April, even May so we still have four or five months of activity,” says Dr. Buchinsky.
However, Influenza B, a strain normally seen in the spring is already popping up. Dr. Buchinsky says there are additional symptoms you may experience with that strain.
“Influenza B is also associated with intestinal symptoms. So you may see more vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, than you might see with Influenza A,” says Dr. Buchinsky.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, so far in the 2019-2020 flu season 1.7 million people have been diagnosed with the flu. There have been 16,000 hospitalizations, and at least 900 people have died from the flu or flu-related complications. Dr. Alan Taege with the Cleveland Clinic says if you haven’t gotten your flu shot, now is the time.
“It’s really never too late to get the vaccine,” says Dr. Taege.
Doctors add that it is possible to get the flu twice in one flu season.
“What you get in December, you may be exposed to another virus strain in March, which is totally different than what you had in December,” says Dr. Buchinsky.
Doctors say the best prevention is a vaccine and good hygiene. That means washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 15 seconds. If you lose track of time easily, try singing a song.