Kern County Public Health confirmed that two more people have died in Kern County due to the flu. According to public health, these two recent deaths bring up the total to three in Kern County. The first death was reported back in December.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 13 million cases of the flu in the United States, 120,000 hospitalizations and more than 6,600 deaths this season.
Medical experts advise that if you are experiencing flu symptoms you should stay at home, cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, wash your hands often and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Michelle Corson of the Kern County Department of Public Health explained that the best defense against the flu still remains the current flu vaccine. Even if you get the flu after being vaccinated, "the symptoms are often going to be lessened." She also said it still isn't too late to get the vaccine.
Corson also explained that because the season started earlier, it is possible to get the flu twice. There are two strains of the flu with the earlier strain hitting young children hardest because they haven't had the chance to build up an immunity to it. A second strain has only recently picked up speed. Since they are two separate strains, it is possible to get the flu twice.
However, Corson recommends that people don't get vaccinated twice.
