February tends to be the peak influenza season in Iowa, according to Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher. So far this flu season there have been three influenza-related deaths in Iowa. Last week there were 24 schools with 10% or greater absence due to illness. Fisher advises how you can protect yourself and prevent the spread of illness, “It’s still not too late to get a flu shot. Certainly people can still get a flu shot, it takes about two weeks to build immunity, so that would be the number one. But then of course the next really big message I want to press is that if people are ill they should be staying home, not going out, not to social events or parties, or even out in the public to go to the grocery store. So staying home, containing those germs in your home. Washing your hands a lot. Good cough etiquette, covering your cough at home, washing your hands, and staying home.”

Fisher says flu symptoms come on suddenly, often with a fever. If you do believe you have influenza, she recommends that you call your primary care provider before going to the office in person. Fisher adds there have been reports of influenza in Washington County, but they have not yet received laboratory confirmation.