Time to seek the flu fighters, inoculations against influenza, as the season begins in earnest.

Fever, dry cough and runny nose, headache and muscle pain characterize influenza.

“The flu season has officially begun,” state Department of Health spokeswoman Stacy Kriedeman said. This season’s first laboratory-confirmed case of the flu in Pennsylvania was recorded earlier this month in Lehigh County, Kriedeman said.

The flu hits suddenly, often with brutal effect, said Dr. James Eckenrode, medical director of Windber Medical Center.

“With the flu, you feel good at 8 in the morning, and by noon you have pain and fever, then chills and a cough, and by evening you feel like you’ve been run over by a train,” Eckenrode said. “It occurs that quickly.”

The good news, he said, is that a flu shot usually can prevent the viral infection – or at least minimize the symptoms.

This year, record vaccine supplies are on hand.

“The supply is terrific,” Kriedeman said. “We have more flu vaccine being produced in the U.S. this year than any year in the past.”

Manufacturers are expected to produce 132 million doses for the United States, she said, noting the state is getting 250,000 doses for high-risk patients through state health centers and federally qualified health clinics.

“It keeps you from what, potentially, can be a very serious illness, especially in compromised individuals,” said Dr. Matthew Masiello, vice president of the Office of Community Health for the Conemaugh Health System.

Those most at-risk for complications from influenza are:

• Children younger than 5.

• Pregnant women.

• Those ages 50 and older.

• Those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or lung disease.

• Nursing home residents.

Healthy people who live with or care for these at-risk patients and those who work with patients in health-care settings also are on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s high-priority list for flu shots.

“You are not only protecting yourself,” Kriedeman said. “You are protecting your loved ones and family members.”

Somerset Hospital, which has logged three flu cases so far this season, is the only area hospital reporting the virus.

“Flu just really hasn’t broken loose yet,” Somerset spokesman Greg Chiappelli said.

But it will, experts say.

In an average year, 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 die, the CDC says.

Complications include bacterial pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions.

The typical flu season begins in October or November, peaks in late January or February and tapers in March and April. But no two flu seasons are alike. In the past 24 years, reports peaked as early as November once, with the peaks coming four times in December, five times in January, 10 times in February and four times in March.

The flu virus normally is spread by coughs and sneezes.

Doctors recommend using the sleeve instead of a hand over the mouth when coughing in order to prevent spreading the virus by contact from unwashed hands. Frequent, thorough hand washing also is important.

Most healthy adults can spread the virus one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after getting sick, and children can pass on the virus for more than a week, the CDC says.

Treatment includes resting, drinking liquids, taking flu medicine for symptoms and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

Windber, Somerset and Conemaugh hospitals report successful flu shot programs this year.

While all three sponsored public clinics, they focused on employees and their families to avoid staffing shortages and prevent the virus’ spread to high-risk patients.

The schedule of flu shot clinics is winding down, but there still is plenty of time to get inoculated, Eckenrode said. It takes just two to four weeks for the body to create antibodies for full protection.

“Once you have that, if you got anything at all (from the virus) it would be very minimal,” Eckenrode said.



Flu-shot clinics

Cambria County State Health Center, 184 Donald Lane, Richland Township: 1 to 3 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 27. Free to high-risk patients, former and present coal miners and their families.

BiLo Food Market, 81 Osborne St., Johnstown: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 27.

BiLo Food Market, Westwood Plaza, Lower Yoder Township: 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 27.