Early influenza season predicted

Flathead City-County Health  Department officials echoed warnings of an early, hard-hitting flu season from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as well as from state health officials.

The warning is based on earlier-than-normal flu cases reported across the country.

In a press release Wednesday, Jody White, director of Community Health, urged vaccinations for everyone six months and older as the department waits confirmation of the first cases in the valley.

“We are currently awaiting secondary confirmation on two cases of suspected influenza that were shown to be positive through testing,” she said.

The first reports found this year’s vaccine closely matches the strain circulating through the country. White said that everyone should get vaccinated since even healthy children and adults can get very ill from the flu virus.

Flathead City-County Health Department at 1035 First Avenue West in Kalispell offers flu shots Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, health officials provide immunizations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Influenza symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and, more often in children, stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Most adults become infectious a day before exhibiting symptoms. People usually become ill one to three days after infection.

For more information, call 751-8110 or visit the website flatheadhealth.org or the department’s Facebook page.