Flu Season Starts Early In Idaho

Flu season is in full swing in Idaho, sending people to bed with coughs, sneezes, fever and body aches.

“It started up a little earlier than usual,” state virologist Roy Moulton said Friday. “It got widespread rather quickly.”

So far 25 cases of influenza have been confirmed statewide, including nine cases in Boise and two in Nampa, Moulton said. The rest of the cases are scattered as far north as Orofino and as far east as Pocatello.

The actual number of victims is much higher than 25. Public health officials do not try to track every case of flu. Instead, they try to pin down the strain, and see where cases are concentrated.

All 25 cases are a type A strain included in this year’s flu vaccine.