Doctors Have Warned That Flu Season In Tennessee Has Started Early With A Unique Strain

Flu season is one of the worst times of the year. It’s where folks find themselves coughing into their elbows, diverting their eyes from their runny-nosed neighbors and investing in way too much medication. It always comes near the end of the year, when the world gets colder and the flu virus grows stronger. Unfortunately, this year Tennessee has seen an uptick in the flu virus a lot earlier than normal. We decided to find out why, and the results were surprising.

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The world has long since shuddered in horror at a simple, three-letter word: flu. It's a historic menace, and it's kept folks at home for weeks on end, ravaging families and even landing an unlucky number in the hospital.

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As of December of 2019, the nation has already seen a solid increase in flu illnesses, with almost 1,000 flu-related deaths already reported in the United States.

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It's a shocking number and one that can be attributed to the early activity of the influenza B virus. It's unusually active this winter when it normally rears its ugly head in February or March. It's most common amongst children and young adults.

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Though the virus is not normally dangerous to older folks, it does cause quite a few people to make their way to the doctor's office. The influenza B virus has hit a large swath of the southern United States, with its first presentations beginning in late November.

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Residents of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee have made the list for the highest early flu activity in late 2019.

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Of course, this is only the beginning; flu season can last all the way through March.

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Make sure to take all the necessary precautions against the flu, folks! Whether that means vaccinating yourself against the virus or increasing your vitamin intake, protecting your own body and doing what's right for your family is of the essence.

Keep your immune system up with a delicious meal from Teammates Pizza in Mountain City, Tennessee. There’s nothing better than a well-fed body in the midst of the chilly winter season.