Flu cases are rising in Michigan. The doctor explains what we can do

Health experts warning, we are starting to hear more about cold and flu cases here in Michigan, and we know this is the very beginning of a season of sickness, unfortunately. Health experts do maintain the flu vaccine is the best way to help reduce a person's risk of getting the virus, but there are some other tricks to avoid getting sick. Cases of the flu are on the rise. The season actually got an early start this year. The CDC reporting there was an uptick in cases in late August instead of later in the fall. So far, some of the highest activity is happening across the West Coast. but health experts are telling people everywhere nationwide to get that flu shot. It cuts the risk of hospitalization in adults by 40 percent, and it cuts the hospitalization risk in children by 50 to 60 percent. In addition to the vaccine, here's what else you need to do. Washing hands, not sharing drinks, sneezing into your arm, just kind of keeping germs away. Amy Pridemore is a nurse practitioner and an assistant clinical professor at Auburn University. She says for families, when it comes to curbing the flu spread, kids are a big part of the equation. The younger they are the more likely they are to get sick because they don't have that strong immune system yet. That's why you see a lot of illnesses start in the kindergarten classrooms and in the pre-k classrooms. Wipe down surfaces with disinfectants. Keep kids away from others when they're sick especially as we dive deeper into the school year. Keeping children at home until they're fever free for 24 hours or until their symptoms subside is are all key things to keeping the germs from spreading. Here's the other thing you need to tell your kids, avoid touching your eyes, your nose and your mouth. That's where the germs easily spread and get into your system. That is advice for all of us. Keep your hands away from your face. Yeah. And I mean, we think back to the COVID times and how we were using hand sanitizer so often, but it still should be kind of a staple, right? I mean, that's good. Especially if you're out grocery shopping, you can do so anywhere. Get in the car, touch up the gas, all that. All that. Yes.