It's Not Too Late to Get Flu Vaccine, 2013 Flu Cases Up from Past Two Years

In Pennsylvania, the flu season was off to an early start in December and is now considered one of the worst outbreaks in years, according to the state Department of Health.

The good news is that it's not too late to get a flu shot, according to Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, chief of infectious diseases at St. Luke's University Health Network.

The outbreak is bad enough for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township to open a separate emergency room Tuesday, Jan. 8 for patients experiencing flu-like symptoms.

The hospital has set up a mobile tent outside the ER to handle an additional influx of patients suffering from flu-like illness, it said in a news release issued Monday.

Patients who are experiencing flu-like symptoms should still report to the main ER entrance for triage, a hospital spokesman said.

St. Luke’s University Health Network's six emergency rooms is currently seeing about 20 patients a day with flu-like symptoms but does not see a need to expand patient capacity at this time, said Dr. Jahre.

For more information about where to get a flu shot go to the Department of Health’s website and the flu vaccine finder, which provide information by county or zip code as to where to get flu shots.

Among the locations in South Whitehall to get flu shots are doctors' offices, CVS at Village West;Giant pharmacy at Village West; Kmart pharmacy at 4701 Tilghman St.; Target pharmacy at 1600 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. and Rite Aid at 1650 N. Cedar Crest Blvd.  

In Pennsylvania, there were 7,181 flu cases and four deaths reported from Oct. 2 to Dec. 29, according to the state Department of Health. Lehigh County reported 355 flu cases and Northampton County reported 328 flu cases for the same period. The health department will report updated numbers on Jan. 8.

Influenza—more commonly known as simply "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose.

Symptoms of the flu include muscle or body aches, headache, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever or chills, and vomiting and diarrhea (the latter two are more common in kids). The flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions or cause death.