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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Erin Walker is delighted with her visit to the wellness center. The mother of two has a flu shot on Monday.
"Take this extra safety net," says Walker. "I'll come get one and I'll usually come back with my kids to show them it does not hurt."
She says her family gets vaccinated every year.
"I've already heard of several cases of influenza this year," Walker says.
The Arkansas Department of Health has reported more than 5,000 cases of influenza since September, including 17 deaths.
"We had people, I guess, who thought the flu was not going to really touch," said Kara Woller, owner of The Shot Clinic.
Woller says more people have come in the past two weeks to apply for the flu shot, in some cases it's too late.
"They cough, have cold symptoms, and end up being diagnosed with the flu," says Woller.
UAMS says its clinics are seeing a slight increase in visits.
Baptist Health reports that its clinics and emergency rooms are also experiencing a slight increase.
Lisa Roberts, a nurse at the shooting clinic, says the 70-degree temperature plays a bad trick for people.
"Now it's back," says Roberts. "It's really hard for people to keep their immune systems in shape, because they're going from one extreme to the other."
In the last two weeks, 48 students from the Pulaski County Special School District have been absent due to influenza, strep throat or stomach bug.
In Bryant, school officials said 22 students have been away since Thursday.
The Little Rock School District officials say there are no alarming numbers on the flu, but there are more absences than usual related to a stomach bug or fever, mostly in primary schools.
The LISA Academy North announced Monday that it will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for a thorough clean-up to prevent the spread of the flu.
FARM TO CLEAN:
LISA Academy North has closed the next 2 days for a thorough cleaning … pic.twitter.com/reKk0cMlYi
– Isabella Moller (@imollertv) February 5, 2019
Last week, the Mountain Home School District was closed due to illness.
Walker says that being proactive not only keeps her kids happy, but she too.
"They touch everything and I'm always terrified, I'm going to have the last strain," says Walker.
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