For the fifth straight week Kentucky health officials are reporting widespread flu activity in the state.
Deputy Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Kraig Humbaugh said that is the highest level of activity but not unusual for January.
“What is a bit unusual is that we started to report widespread activity in the early part of December and have continued to report it then for these last 5 weeks,” Humbaugh said. “So it started a bit earlier this season.”
Humbaugh said best protection is still a flu shot.
“And even though this year’s flu vaccine is not as well matched to covering the circulating strains as we’d like to see,” Humbaugh said. “It’s still the best way to help prevent the flu.”
Humbaugh also suggests frequently washing your hands, not touching your nose or mouth and avoiding large crowds.
So far this flu season, 26 people have died from influenza in Kentucky and 70 percent of them were 65 and older.
