A local health official has urged Georgians to get a flu shot now before flu season gets in full swing.
Leyna Mashburn with District 2 Public Health spoke on Tuesday's edition of WDUN's The Martha Zoller Show and said influenza is already spreading in Georgia.
"Our activity level is at a moderate level of seven out of 13, which is a little bit higher than we're typically used to seeing this time of year," Mashburn. "The CDC estimates that as many as 36,000 people in the U.S. die each year from influenza and about 200,000 are hospitalized with flu-related illnesses."
Mashburn said this year's flu season in Georgia has the potential to be more severe than what it has been over the past couple of years.
"I do think that people have forgotten about getting tested for flu, they're more worried about getting tested for COVID," Mashburn said.
The CDC recommends everybody six months and older get the flu vaccine. Mashburn said it is especially important to receive the vaccine if you are 65 or older.
Most doctor's offices and pharmacies give the flu vaccine, and Mashburn said you can also receive the vaccine at District 2 Public Health.
The full interview with Leyna Mashburn can be found here.
