Associated Press Published

W.Va. Seeing Early Arrival of Flu Season

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  West Virginia public health officials say one strain of influenza is making an early appearance in the state.

As a result, the number of people seeking medical care for flu-like symptoms at West Virginia medical facilities is on the rise.

Shannon McBee is an epidemiologist and the influenza coordinator for the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health.

She tells The Charleston Gazette the flu season has started about six to eight weeks earlier than normal. The flu season doesn’t normally peak until late January or early February.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this month that flu cases were widespread in 29 states.  If the trend continues, it could bring another early peak to the flu season as happened in the last two winters.