This year Mississippi is seeing more flu activity earlier than usual, the state health department said. Vaccinations are highly recommended.
Flu season in Mississippi is starting more than a month before it typically begins, and the state health department is reporting an increase in flu activity over the past several weeks.
"We are seeing widespread influenza activity throughout the state," state epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Dobbs said. "Seasonal flu usually peaks from January to March in Mississippi, but infections can be seen before and after peak season."
Dr. Paul Byers, the state's deputy epidemiologist, said Tuesday that influenza is not a reportable illness, so not all diagnoses are reported to the state.
"We track our influenza activity each year by working with providers throughout the state," he said. "We have providers in all parts of the state reporting influenza symptoms on a weekly basis."
From that data, he said, the state has seen an increase in influenza activity, indicating a slightly earlier flu season than in past years.
But "that's not necessarily a good predictor of how the rest of the season is going to be," Byers said. "It's difficult to predict what an influenza season will be like in severity or in how early or late we'll see illness."
That's partly due to the fact that there are so many variations of flu, he said.
Symptoms of seasonal flu include fever, cough and extreme fatigue.
Sore throat, headache, muscle aches and runny or stuffy nose are also often present, state health leaders said, but more severe symptoms and even death can occur.
The health department is recommending that Mississippians immediately get vaccinated, which Byers said is the absolute best protection against influenza.
Seasonal flu vaccines are recommended for those 6 months and older and are especially important for young children, adults 50 and older, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses.
Vaccinations are available at all county health departments. They cost $25 for adults, and those 18 and under can receive vaccinations for $10 through the Vaccines for Children program.
High-dosage vaccinations for those 65 and older are available for $50.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this week that suspected flu cases have jumped in 5 southern states.
Higher-than-normal reports of flu have come in from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
The primary strain circulating tends to make people sicker than other types, CDC officials said, but the vaccine formulated for this year is well matched to the strains of the virus seen so far.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)