The number of flu cases is spiking across the state.
Health officials say the spike is happening early in the season.
Todd Kisner is with the Winnebago County Health Department. He says he’s seen reported cases nearly quadruple over the past month.
“As far as the number of flu cases this early, it’s a little early for us," he said. "But that hopefully means it will end early.”
He says the flu season typically runs through April.
Kisner says the flu is similar to the common cold, but the symptoms tend me to be more severe – and abrupt.
"They happened right away. They’re not gradual," he said. "They’re like, ‘You may feel good today, and then tomorrow, you won’t feel so good.’”
But Kisner says it’s not too late to get a flu shot.