Marion County Public Health Nurse Judi Van Hulzen advises people to get their flu shots earlier this year.

Van Hulzen tells KNIA/KRLS News, “When I talk influenza I’m not talking about the 24 to 48 hour stomach bug that some people get and say I have the flu. That’s not the flu. Influenza is a serious upper respiratory virus that can lead to pneumonia and death and it does in several people.”

Flu struck early in Australia this year and quite often trends are followed in other countries as well. Whether it is getting the flu shot or a shot to fight off COVID 19 call Marion County Public Health for more information at 641-828-2238.