news-record.com

The flu has made only sporadic appearances in North Carolina this winter but reported cases are on the increase.

"We're about where we expect to be for this time of year," said Dr. Zack Moore, medical epidemiologist for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. "Our flu season usually really starts kicking up this time of year ... and usually peaks sometime in February."

Meanwhile, Moore said, there's still plenty of time for people to be vaccinated against the illness.

"We encourage it even during the peak of activity," he said. "Even if you don't get around to (it) until February, that's just the peak. There's still a lot more flu going around after that."

Flu experts say everyone over the age of 6 months should get the flu vaccine each year. And these days, it's easier -- and less intimidating -- than ever. The vaccine is available not only in the traditional form, but also through a nasal mist and intradermal injections. The latter use much smaller needles than traditional injections and the vaccine is injected into the skin, not the muscle.

After receiving the vaccine, the body needs one to two weeks to develop immunity to the flu, Moore said. It won't make you sick, he said.

North Carolina's flu season typically runs through March, though particular flu seasons can vary from year to year.

Flu tends to spread more easily in cold weather when the air is drier and people tend to spend more time indoors and in close quarters.