{"id":6583,"date":"2020-01-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=6583"},"modified":"2021-08-16T19:35:18","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T19:35:18","slug":"flu-season-inland-northwest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/flu-season-inland-northwest\/","title":{"rendered":"Flu season in the Inland Northwest","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

By Cody Hanson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious illness caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms can be mild or severe. Two primary types of influenza are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics: influenza A and B.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s learn who\u2019s at risk, ways you can prevent the flu, steps you should take if you get the flu and what the current flu status is for the Inland Northwest.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s at risk for the flu?<\/h3>\n

Anyone can get the flu, but certain groups are more at risk than others. In particular, seniors, those who are pregnant, children and people with certain health conditions have a higher risk of serious flu complications. Complications may include pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections, and in more severe cases, hospitalization and sometimes death.<\/p>\n

Influenza can also cause increased complications for those dealing with chronic health conditions. For example, people with asthma may experience more frequent and severe attacks. People living with diabetes are also at risk of complications due to their weakened immune system\u2019s ability to fight off infections.<\/p>\n

How can I prevent the flu?<\/h3>\n

One of the most important actions you can take to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. Although there are many different strains of the virus, the flu vaccine protects against a few of the most common.<\/p>\n

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Find a flu shot location near you<\/a><\/p>\n

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There are also a number of everyday measures you can take to help prevent the flu virus, including:<\/p>\n