Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) officials continued to report widespread activity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the seventh straight week. Widespread activity is the highest level of flu activity, which indicates increased flu-like activity or flu outbreaks in at least half of the regions in the state. The activity levels for states are tracked weekly as part of the CDC’s national flu surveillance system.

The flu season can begin as early as October and last through May, and usually peaks between January and March. The holiday season is still a good time to get vaccinated against the flu because it takes about two weeks for immunity to develop and offer protection against flu. However, vaccination can be given any time during the flu season.

Links to updated information from the CDC for clinicians has been posted to the health professionals area of the Health Alerts website.