First Positive Case Begins Flu Season For Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's latest influenza report, released on Tuesday, shows the first case of influenza to the start of the flu season 2020 - 2021.

This is the first positive test for influenza in the State of Maine since the large decline in the State between late March and early April of this spring, when the coronavirus shut-downs were in large effect across the state.

There are concerns this year of a twin pandemic involving both the flu virus and the coronavirus.  A steady flow of advice from medical professionals locally here in Maine and nationwide is to get your flu shot before flu season really ramps up and especially because of COVID-19.

The Maine Center for Disease Control reported this past spring the cumulative influenza cases from September 2019 - May 2020 a flu season that resulted in over 10,000 positive tests of influenza with over 500 hospitalizations.

As flu vaccines roll out now, it is best to get your flu shot as soon as you can this season to avoid compounded virus strain on your immune system, the health of our community and the strain on the healthcare system in our communities.  September and October would be good times to schedule your flu shot before the flu season really gets going.

For more information about this upcoming flu season and more about the flu vaccine, visit the Center for Disease Control website.

For more on the advice from medical professionals locally and nationwide about getting your flu shot and concerns with the coronavirus this flu season, see our past article "Mainer's Urged to Get Early Flu Shots To Avoid Twindemic" published August 30th.