Flu Numbers Skyrocket - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Flu Numbers Skyrocket

Health officials are reporting a surge in flu cases across the country, and North Dakota is no exception.

The North Dakota Department of Health said today that cases in North Dakota have jumped 72-percent in the past week.

There were 1077 cases of the flu, a respiratory virus, reported this week up from 625 last week.

The flu season has peaked early this year.

It usually doesn't peak until February.

At Trinity's Emergency Room, medical staff have been seeing quite a few patients with Influenza A which is a common strain that can be prevented with the vaccine.

Dr. Kevin Franks, Emergency Room, "we base the vaccine on last years common cases, so people need to get vaccinated, even if you get the flu, the symptoms will be less severe, than if you had not been vaccinated"

Doctor Franke says if you get the flu, stay home and drink plenty of liquids.

He says it is an airborne virus and to take preventative measures such as washing your hands frequently.