If so, you could have the flu. Flu season is upon us, and Idaho health officials have reported four cases of the flu in the state so far in 1999. No confirmed cases of flu have appeared in Blaine County, but a few individuals have presented flu-like symptoms, according to Linda Johnson, senior public health nurse for Blaine County.
Flu is a winter-time respiratory disease caused by influenza virus, and it can be fatal.
The month of January is notorious for flu, according to Johnson. One reason flu rears in winter months, according to Cheryl Becker, nurse epidemician for the South Central District Health Department, is because more people congregate indoors, creating a higher probability of infection. Also, returning summer travelers can bring back influenza from their faraway vacation spots, she said. All age groups are susceptible, but influenza is particularly dangerous for the elderly, those with immune problems, and individuals already suffering from asthma. The type of flu that circulates mutates constantly, resulting in the need for a modified vaccine every year.