Flu Virus Considered Widespread In Oklahoma, Six Other States

A Yukon elementary school is closed Wednesday due to the flu. The virus is considered widespread in Oklahoma and six other states.

Classes at Central Elementary were cancelled after so many children and staff became sick with the flu. All the more reason to do whatever it takes to keep it from spreading. 

"No matter where we live in Oklahoma, there is influenza circulating," state health department epidemiologist Laurence Burnsed said.

Burnsed said so far this year there have been 135 flu related hospitalizations in Oklahoma, with two deaths reported last week. He says without a doubt the vaccine can help to keep those numbers from climbing. 

"The reason we recommend it is because we're talking about an illness that circulates and causes millions of illnesses per year, tens of thousands of deaths in the United States," Burnsed said.

He said the virus typically spreads between October through May, with activity picking up around the holidays. 

Also, keep in the mind, peak season is January into early February.