Healt Dept. Releases Flu Statement

The flu can be a deadly virus in certain cases. (The Herald/ Archived Photo)

Influenza activity is widespread across most of the United States, including Tennessee, with intense activity in some regions of the state and more flu activity overall than in recent flu seasons.

The Department of Health urges all Tennesseans who have not yet received a flu vaccine to get one now to help protect vulnerable people around them, their families and themselves from the flu virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that people who have had this year’s vaccine are about 60 percent less likely to have to visit a medical provider for treatment of influenza illness than unvaccinated people.

“We expect several more weeks of influenza activity in Tennessee, so we want everyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated to do so now,” said Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH.