Flu season - albeit mild - is now here

It may be the only true rite of winter.

The whistle in your voice - that onset of an itchy throat.

You try co-workers' suggestions. You eat your chicken soup. You force yourself to go to bed early.

Then one day, you wake up.

And there it is.

The flu.

In conjunction with the first storm of 2008, the flu season similarly kicked off in Northern Nevada two weeks ago.

The storm forced people indoors, where warm confines and breathing recycled air created a perfect Petri dish for flu season to take hold.

And so, when children and co-workers arrived at school and work post-storm Monday with the sniffles and a hack, it was no coincidence, said Dr. Vicky Fogelman, health director for Carson City's Health and Human Services Department.

"You see numbers jump when there's a storm," she said. "The first set of storms we had recently is no exception.

"The other thing to look at is kids are back in school. There will certainly be transmission in school and parents know most of the diseases they get are from their kids."

Sheila Story, chief nurse for Carson City School District, said once school session was back in full swing after the holidays and the storm hit, she started to see flu symptoms around Carson High School, where she is based.

The pandemic has yet to crash the entire student body.

"Actually, considering all the circumstances, we've been pretty OK so far," she said this week. "I have an occasional visitor, but for the most part the kids are getting through it all right."

The key ingredient to staying healthy during flu season was one espoused by all area health officials - prevention.

Whether it's visiting a flu shot clinic or taking the necessary steps to prevent getting sick (wash your hands, drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest - eat fruits and vegetables and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough), this year's strain of flu virus is "highly preventable" Fogelman said.

She added the perception that it's too late to get a flu shot is an inaccurate one.

"There's some thought there that you can only get the flu shot at a certain time," she said. "The reality is there's no better time than now to get a shot. There's still plenty of vaccine available from what I know; the only requirement is that you be healthy when you get the shot."

Fogelman said she thought this year's flu season was thus far a mild one because the virus that is circulating doesn't seem as virulent as in recent years, people have gotten their vaccinations and people are wary of a flu taking hold - resulting in many choosing to stay at home for a day or two, rather than exposing others.

"It's hard to say what's going to happen between now and February," she said. "But for now, people should call their doctor or public health clinic if they haven't been vaccinated, and keep doing what they're doing to stay well."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

The flu

The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and in some instances can even cause death.

Symptoms of flu include:

• fever (usually high)

• extreme tiredness

• headache

• dry cough

• sore throat

• runny or stuffy nose

• muscle aches

• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Important numbers to know:

Carson Tahoe Medical Center: 445-8000

Carson City Health and Human Services: 887-2190

Carson City School District: 283-2000

How flu spreads:

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Flu Vaccinations:

8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Thursdays

Carson City Community Health Clinic, 900 E. Long St.

- Source: Carson City Health and Human Services