All across the state, influenza has been on the rise especially in central and western Iowa.

Greene County Public Health Immunization Program Manager Jill Juergensen says the flu is a respiratory illness that’s caused by viruses and symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.  She notes that the common cold can also have several of the same symptoms but not to the severity of the flu and the symptoms of stomach flu includes vomiting and diarrhea which isn’t associated with the flu at all.  Juergensen adds that in extreme cases, influenza has been known to kill people, usually the very young and the elderly are at the highest risk.

If you think you have the flu, Juergensen recommends that you contact your family doctor to find out if you need to make an appointment, otherwise, stay away from other people and try to quarantine yourself until it goes away which is usually about 2-7 days after you contract the illness.

Juergensen points out that antiviral medications can help you get rid of the flu.

“Antiviral medications can make flu illnesses shorter and reduce the risk of ending up in the hospital or dying from the influenza.  Antivirals work best if started within 48-hours or sooner of when flu symptoms begin.”

To prevent getting the flu, Juergensen recommends getting the flu vaccination.  It can protect you from two-types of Influenza A and two-types of Influenza B.  Other preventative tactics includes washing hands repeatedly and staying away from someone who may have the flu.

Based upon the Centers for Disease Control’s national estimates, an average of 300,000 Iowans get the flu every year and together, flu and its complication of pneumonia cause an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa.

Contact Greene County public health with any questions at 515-386-3228.