Three Indiana residents have died from the flu, the first to succumb to the disease this season, state health officials announced today.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already has reported several flu deaths across the country, including those of four children. High flu activity is being reported in several southeastern states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Indiana is starting to see flu activity increase, and the virus is now widespread across the state, according to officials from the Indiana State Department of Health.
National health officials say that the main strain circulating this year is H1N1, which caused a pandemic four years ago. At that time, no vaccine existed against the strain, which was new.
This year's flu vaccine, however, contains protection against that strain of the virus. So health officials are urging anyone over the age of 6 months who have not yet been vaccinated to do so now. The vaccine is widely available at pharmacies, doctors' offices and local health departments.
Pregnant women and children appear to be particularly susceptible to the H1N1 virus.
Common flu symptoms include a fever above 100 degrees, headache, fatigue, aches, cough and sore throat.
In addition to vaccination, the best way to prevent the spread of flu is to clean one's hands often with soap and warm water, cover one's cough and contain the illness by staying home if you fall ill.