REALLY?

The Arkansas Department of Health is urging all adult Arkansans to get a flu shot. Director Dr. Nate Smith said in a news release that “an unusually high number of young to middle-aged adults are being hospitalized or dying of flu this season.”

“We know the flu vaccine isn’t 100 percent effective, but it truly can mean the difference between a mild to moderate illness and death,” Smith said.

The strain of flu that’s making the rounds is H1N1, and it is more likely than other recent strains to cause severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and pregnant women.

The release said flu vaccine is available at pharmacies, doctors’ offices and local health units statewide. Local health units provide it for free to people who don’t have insurance.

Flu symptoms often include fever above 100 degrees, headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, dry cough and runny or stuffy nose. If you develop symptoms, the Health Department advises, stay home and rest in bed. The release warned that anyone with the flu who experiences shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sudden dizziness, or pain or pressure in the chest, should seek medical care as quickly as possible.

The best prevention measure is a flu shot, but it also helps to wash hands frequently and keep them away from your nose, mouth and eyes. Also keep your distance from sick people, and disinfect things they touch.