Flu touches down

It’s officially influenza season in Butte County, as 16 separate lab-confirmed cases have been reported by local health care providers, and four severe flu cases have hospitalized county residents since Dec. 1.

As such, Butte County Public Health offers simple tips for preventing the virus from spreading: avoid close contact with sick people; cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze; wash or sanitize your hands regularly; and stay at home when you experience flu symptoms.

And while the release concedes “vaccines released for this year’s flu are not as well matched as vaccines in the past,” it still urges vaccinations for everyone over 6 months old. “It’s the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from the flu,” said Dr. Mark Lundberg, county health officer.