Increase in influenza activity reported

Local and state public health officials are reporting an increase in influenza activity and remind all Montanans that it’s not too late to get a vaccination.

Last week, the Flathead City-County Health Department was awaiting secondary confirmation of two suspected cases.

“Influenza season typically peaks in February and can last as late as May,” Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services director Anna Whiting Sorrell said. “We are encouraging people who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated now.”

Each year, millions of people are infected with influenza, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and thousands die from its complications. Public health officials encourage every Montanan six months and older to receive the influenza vaccine each year. The vaccine is available in a shot or nasal spray.

Anyone can get influenza, but some people are at greater risk for serious complications, including children younger than five years old, pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older. Serious complications include pneumonia, hospitalization and even death.

Flu shots are available at the Flathead City-County Health Department on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/flu or www.flatheadhealth.org.