EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. -- El Paso County Health Department officials said two infants have been hospitalized with the flu in the county.
These are the first two cases of influenza hospitalizations for this flu season.
Health department officials said children younger than two years old and adults older than 65 are at the highest risk. They also said pregnant women, those with medical conditions, those who live in nursing homes and health care workers also have a higher than average risk of getting the flu.
Officials said ways to prevent the flu include getting vaccinated, washing your hands frequently, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or sleeve and staying away from those who are sick.
Symptoms include high fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting, though those symptoms don't always mean one has the flu.
"We expect to see an increase in flu activity throughout the holidays and encourage everyone to get vaccinated and be conscientious about practicing flu prevention behaviors," health department medical director Bernadette Albanese said in a statement. "These reported hospitalizations serve as a reminder of the seriousness of flu especially in infants."
Last flu season (October 2009 - May 2010), El Paso County reported 102 hospitalizations. The county reported 188 hospitalizations during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, including one death.
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