For the first time since flu season began last fall, the number of flu cases in Pennsylvania has fallen. This does not mean that the flu season is over, says the state Health Department. Not by a long shot. The latest week's count shows that the state is still affected by widespread flu and that most of the persistent flu cases are in the southeastern part of the state.

During the last week, 3,443 flu cases were reported in the five-county Times News region, including 1,317 in Lehigh County, 1,307 in Northampton County, 419 in Monroe, 245 in Schuylkill and 155 in Carbon. These case counts represent only a fraction of the actual total cases, because most people with flu do not go to the doctor or an emergency room.The department says that the severity of flu varies widely from season to season. It is estimated that 5 to 20 percent (600,000 to 2,400,000) of Pennsylvanians get the flu each year, and 120 to 2,000 die from complications of influenza. So far this flu season there have been 38 deaths, 33 of them among those 65 and older.The flu kills about 36,000 people a year throughout the United States and between 250,000 and 500,000 a year worldwide.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.Those with flu feel some or all of these signs and symptoms: fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue and vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults.Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose, the CDC reports.According to the CDC, not only can you pass on the flu while you are sick, you might pass it along to someone else before you know you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning a day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time. It takes about two days from when a person is exposed to the virus until symptoms show up.The word "influenza" comes from the medieval Latin word "influential," because people once believed that the influence of the planets, stars and moon caused the flu. The French call the flu "la grippe," a word that was showcased in a song from the hit Broadway play "Guys and Dolls."There have been four major global flu pandemics since 1900. The most serious was the Spanish flu in 1918-19 which killed between 50 million and 100 million worldwide. The most recent was the swine flu outbreak (official name Novel H1N1 Influenza A) in 2009 which killed nearly 203,000 worldwide.How can we prevent the spread of the flu virus?• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.• If possible, stay home from work, school and running errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.• If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow to minimize the explosion of droplets that could infect others.• Wash your hands frequently for about 30 seconds with warm water and soap.Each of us has a responsibility to keep the flu in check.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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