The flu has been the cause of 85 deaths in Indiana this year. Officials have determined that that number is higher than the total number of deaths in each of the previous ten years.
The flu season has just reached the halfway point.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams says it’s important to get to a health care provider right away if you have flu symptoms. Those symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees or greater, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, or sore throat.
The flu is spread by respiratory droplets from close contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. You can prevent spreading the flu by covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, washing your hands frequently with warm, soapy water and staying home from work or school when you are sick.
High-risk individuals include pregnant women, young children, people older than 65, and those with chronic illnesses and/or compromised immune systems. Health officials say the best defense against the flu is a flu shot.
