By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Flu season has begun in Kentucky and public health officials are hoping it’s not a repeat of the 2024-2025 flu season, which was especially severe with high rates of severe illness and hospitalizations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified the last flu season as the most severe one since 2010-2011.
Flu is a respiratory virus and can spread quickly. When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the flu virus gets in the air and people close by can inhale it through their noses or mouths. It can also be spread when people touch a contaminated surface like a door handle, then put their fingers in their noses or mouths or rub their eyes.
If you come down with the flu, it can last a week or longer. Common symptoms include:
• Chills.
• Headache, body aches, and being a lot more tired than usual.
• Sore throat.
• Dry, hacking cough.
• Stuffy, runny nose.
• Some people, especially children, may throw up (vomit) and have loose stools (diarrhea).
Public health officials say flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older and are available at healthcare providers and local pharmacies. Getting vaccinated helps to prevent getting the flu or reduces the risk of serious complications if you do get it.
People are urged to take all the steps they can to stay well, including getting vaccinated:
• Children younger than 9 years who have never been vaccinated or have only had a single flu vaccine in their lifetime need two doses given four weeks apart.
• Practice good hygiene like washing your hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces.
• Wearing a mask offers an extra layer of protection from respiratory viruses that are spread by coughing, sneezing, talking.
• if you get sick, use precautions to prevent spread. Stay home and away from others and seek health care promptly for treatment as it may help lower your risk of severe illness.
• As always, talk to your healthcare provider about what’s best for you.