Nationwide, flu cases and deaths remain below annual epidemic threshold levels, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Activity in Wisconsin has been light, too, but the season typically peaks in January. In Milwaukee, three cases have been confirmed. It's important to be vaccinated soon, because it takes one to two weeks for sufficient antibodies to form after getting a flu shot. Flu can occur even after vaccination, though it's usually far less severe than it would be without.
True flu is more severe than the common cold.
Symptoms include sudden fever that can last five to 10 days, headache, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, sore throat and cough. Four drugs are licensed to treat the flu, and studies have shown they can cut the severity of symptoms and trim about a day from the duration of illness. But they must be started within 48 hours of when symptoms begin. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Dec. 20, 2000. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.