Flu Season Still a Problem Across Pennsylvania

It’s March, but flu season is far from over. The Centers for Disease Control listed the flu as widespread in Pennsylvania in its latest weekly report.

Shelly Haffner, Penn State University Health Services infectious disease manager, said it’s still not as bad as last year’s flu season.

‘Last year was an unusually bad flu season. It was the worst since the pandemic of 2009,’ Haffner said.

About 18,000 people in the U.S. have died from the flu this season, compared to 80,000 during the 2017-18 season.

The CDC says between Oct. 1 and Feb. 16, there have been 17 to 20 million flu cases across the country, and in the past few weeks, many states have shown a spike.

Experts say if you experience flu-like symptoms it’s always best to get checked out. And doctors say an important way to stay healthy during flu season is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water throughout the day.

But the best way to prevent the flu is to get the vaccine.

‘You can get the flu more than once. That’s why the vaccine is still the best thing we can do to prevent the flu as well as to decrease potential for complications,’ Haffner said.

Logan Westrope reports on how the flu season has been shaping up.

This video is produced by and for Centre County Report and is shared through a partnership with StateCollege.com.