As of December 5, the flu was determined to be "widespread" in the state of Virginia. Officials believe it will continue to spread over the coming weeks.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on December 5 that the flu virus is now considered "widespread" for the state of Virginia due to a high volume of cases being reported.
This is earlier than normal; last year, the flu didn't reach "widespread" status until January. Though the time to get your flu shot was last month, the CDC states that it is “not too late” to get one and recommends that everyone get vaccinated as soon as possible. The flu virus is dangerous, and the threat should not be taken lightly. Keep in mind that the demographics most affected by the flu are the elderly, pregnant women, people with a severe illness, and young children.
What to Do
First and foremost, get your flu shot. It's not too late, but it does take two weeks to kick in. Wash your hands more often and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Try and stick to a healthier diet filled with nutrients, and make sure to drink lots of fluids. Find more tips here.
Some symptoms include:
- fever
- chills
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- cough
- congestion
- runny nose
- headaches
- fatigue
If you begin to feel sick or think you may have flu symptoms, head to your doctor to get tested. If the flu goes untreated you can land yourself in the hospital—or worse.
You can see the activity report here to monitor the flu activity within your area!
What do you think of this news? Have you gotten your flu shot? Did your kids get their flu shots? Tell us in the comments!
