Flu cases increase at UGA, in public schools in NE Ga.

ATHENS - Flu season has arrived on the University of Georgia campus.

A spokeswoman for the University Health Center, Liz Rachun, says health care workers have treated 485 people with flu-like symptoms since January 21st. She says that compares to 106 cases during the same period last year.

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that the flu season is getting worse and said it's partly because the flu vaccine doesn't protect against most of the spreading flu bugs. They say the flu shot is a good match for only about 40 percent of this year's flu viruses.

Dr. Katie Arnold is infectious diseases epidemiologist for the state Division of Public Health. She says flu has been considered widespread in Georgia for the third straight week and that doctors around the state are reporting double the number of confirmed cases as last year.

Schools also are reporting more absences. Jefferson City Schools Superintendent John Jackson says Jefferson Elementary School reported a 30 percent rise in absences because of flu and other illnesses.