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BALTIMORE, MD – Two influenza cases have been confirmed in Maryland, health officials said Tuesday. One case occurred in central Maryland, while another was on the east coast, according to the Maryland Department of Health.
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with an infected person or a contaminated surface.
An adult and a child have been infected with the disease and are the first confirmed cases of the 2018-2019 influenza season in Maryland, officials said. Confirmed influenza strains are type A (H1) and type B (Victoria).
The flu season generally starts in October or November, peaks from December to February and can last until May, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to health officials, these flu symptoms usually appear between one and four days after exposure:
- Fever
- aches
- Tired
- Cough
- Irritated throat
Health officials urge residents of Maryland to be vaccinated. Influenza vaccine is available from health care providers, local health departments and pharmacies.
"This season, influenza vaccines have been updated to better match the strains in circulation," Deputy Secretary General of Public Health Services Fran Phillips said in a statement. "The flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu, it's important to get vaccinated every year because the flu strains that are circulating are changing over time."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting a flu shot before the end of October, as it takes about two weeks to come into effect.
Anyone over the age of six months can get the flu shot, which is particularly recommended for people at risk: people with chronic diseases or those treated for something that could weaken the immune system; children under 5 (especially those under 2 years old); those aged 65 and over, as well as retirement homes and long-term care facilities; pregnant women (and women until two weeks after childbirth); Native Americans and Native Americans of Alaska; and caregivers.
What if you think you have the flu?
- Contact your health care provider
- Rest
- Drink liquids
- Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wash your hands often
- Stay home as much as possible to avoid spreading disease
- Avoid crowded places (shopping malls, public transportation, for example)
- Do not make unnecessary visits to places where other people may be vulnerable (hospitals, retirement homes)
The Maryland Department of Health provides weekly updates on influenza activity in the state.
RELATED: Where to get flu shot in Maryland
Image via Shutterstock.
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