Flu cases increase in Monterey County

The busy flu season is just beginning and already the Monterey County Health Department said it’s seeing an increase in flu cases. Health officials advise anyone who hasn’t gotten a flu shot to get one now.

“The vaccine is the best way to prevent influenza disease and also hospitalizations and deaths,” said Kristy Michie with the Health Department.

January and Februaryare peak flu season monthsand pregnant women and kids are the most vulnerable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year an average of 20,000 children younger than5 are hospitalized because of flu-related complications.

Gretchen Jackson,whohas been running a day care in Prunedale for almost 30 years says that whenit comes to the flu, she’s prepared.

“We try hard to keep things clean, and you know a lot of handwashing and what not, but the best prevention is to keep them home when they are sick,” said Jackson, the owner of Growing Times Daycare.

Health officials agree. If possible, they say stay home from work or school to prevent others from catching the illness and potentially creating a chain reaction.

“We have a lot of children that have older siblings so it will come through the school to the older sibling and then it goes to the younger kids and then the younger kids bring it in here,” said Jackson.

There are still plenty of doses offlu vaccine out there and health officials said this season is a very good match.

“I encourage everybody who hasn’t been vaccinated to get vaccinated not only for themselves but for the people that they are around who may be susceptible to getting severe disease,” said Michie.