Jordan Beck | Daily Press Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties Registered Nurse Haille Van Steen, right, gives her fellow RN Jenny Farnes an influenza vaccine recently.

ESCANABA — Autumn has officially arrived in the Upper Peninsula — a time of year which marks the start of the annual flu season.

Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties (PHDM) Immunization/Communicable Disease Coordinator Jennie Miller said it is not possible to accurately predict the course of a flu season ahead of time.

“While flu spreads every year, the timing, severity and length of the season varies from one season to another,” she said.

So far, PHDM has not seen any early indicators of flu activity in the area for the 2019-20 flu season.

“We rely on reports of influenza-like illness from our local hospital and schools as our only method of collecting data about flu activity. Thus far, we have not had any reports of flu activity,” Miller said.

Miller said information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated the United States’ 2018-19 flu season was moderate on the whole.

“Nationally, influenza-like illness activity began increasing in November, peaked during mid-February, and returned to below baseline in mid-April; the season lasted 21 weeks, making it the longest season in 10 years,” she said.

No matter how severe the 2019-20 flu season ends up being, Miller said the best thing people can do to reduce their risk of becoming ill is to get vaccinated.

“Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season,” she said.

She went on to say people may be able to help others by getting vaccinated, as well.

“Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, including loved ones who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people and people with certain chronic health conditions,” Miller said.

According to the CDC, trivalent vaccines for the 2019-20 flu season are recommended to contain the A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B/Victoria lineage viruses.

Along with getting vaccinated, there are some other things people can do to reduce their risk of catching or spreading the flu. Miller said these include avoiding close contact with sick people.

“If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading flu to others,” she said.

Additional steps people can take include cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in their homes, workplaces and schools; washing their hands; getting a healthy amount of sleep; staying physically active; managing stress levels; drinking fluids regularly; and eating a nutritious diet.