Flu cases on the rise in Central Florida
LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu is near epidemic proportions.
By January, it has hit every state in the continental U.S. and Alaska, and everywhere it hit has widespread levels.
Nationwide, 20 children have died from the flu, with seven of the deaths happening in the past week.
Locally, Dr. Ramos, with the Kids Urgent Care in Lake Mary, said "in the past 10 days, Centra Care has diagnosed over a thousand positive cases of influenza. Seven days prior, there were only five hundred cases."
Dr. Ramos said both children and adults are getting the virus, and the CDC reported 20 child fatalities from this season's flu.
"People just don't like to get the flu vaccine because they think it will make them sick, but that is not true," Dr. Ramos said. "You can still get influenza even if you get the vaccine, but your symptoms will not be as severe."
Children as young as six months can get the flu shot.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.