It's been a very active year for the flu around the country and locally.
As of January 3, there were 2,500 confirmed cases of influenza in Monroe County. The vast majority were the Influenza A virus.
562 of those patients were sick enough to be hospitalized. There have been seven deaths in the county since the flu season began late last year. There was a spike in reported cases around Christmas, but the illness is trending downward since then.
The age group hit hardest in terms of both deaths and hospitalization from the flu is those over 65.
Even though this season's flu vaccine does not offer complete protection for all the strains of the virus now circulating, health officials still recommend that people get the flu shot.
