Flu Cases in Ozaukee County Higher Than Last Season

As tweets about #theflu continue to fly across the Twittersphere and more posts about drippy noses and high fevers fill up Facebook, Port Washington and Saukville familes aren't exempt from the burdensome bug. 

"I (Heather) have it right now ... its horrible, worst I've had since I was a kid," Lee-Heather Iverson wrote on Patch's Facebook page. "Constant hard pressure at the back of my head/neck, vomiting, whole body aches, and chills. My daughter had it earlier this week ... now knowing how horrible it feels I feel even worse for her. She's 20 months and this was her first time with the flu ... she looked so sad and scared."

Flu cases in the Milwaukee area have increased to an "intense" level, significantly exceeding moderate levels in 2011-12, according to Google Flu Trends.

Wisconsin is among 42 states to have a widespread flu outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All 50 states are reporting symptoms, with Hawaii only reporting sporadic cases.

But even with plenty of people couch- and bed-ridden, Caroline Jacque, a nurse with the Ozaukee County Health Department said while the state tracks actually numbers, and the clinic doesn't actually see patients — she believes the rate of flu cases is "definitely" higher this season.

"We don't see patients, per say, but we have heard from division offices and hospitals there are more cases out there — how many, it’s hard to say … many of them aren't reported at all," she said, adding that it's defi

Health practitioners are noticing three strands of the flu this year, meaning people who have already had the flu may still benefit from getting a flu shot to avoid the other two strands, she said.

"If you haven't had a flu shot yet, its definitely worth it if you haven’t had any symptoms," she said.

Where to Get a Flu Shot

While the best time to receive the influenza vaccination is in October and November, there are still flu shots available. If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some places in the area that offer the vaccine:

Walgreens: 829 E. Green Bay Ave., Port Washington

• Flu vaccinations are available at Walgreens daily. Walk in anytime or schedule an appointment by clicking here. Most insurance accepted.

CVS Pharmacy: W63n152 Washington Ave., Cedarburg (nearest location)

• CVS offers flu shots everyday. They also accept insurance and Medicare Part B. They have vaccines for both adults (including the new, smaller-needle intradermal vaccine for ages 18-64) and children 18 months old and younger. Walk-ins are welcome, but shoppers can also schedule appointments by clicking here.

Shopko Express: 1011 N. Wisconsin St.  Port Washington

Flu symptoms are a fever, muscle aches, fatigue, coughs and sneezes, and a sore throat. You can find more information about the flu virus from the Center for Disease Control on:

• Who should get vaccinated
• When to get vaccinated
• Selecting a flu vaccine
• Symptoms, complications and severity
• Treatment if you get the flu
• How flu spreads