'Tis the season here in the Bluegrass; the flu is spreading and the CDC says it could happen even more. Folks at the Urgent Treatment Center say they're seeing it first hand and they diagnosed two cases Tuesday morning.

Medical professionals at the UTC have spent the last weeks diagnosing the flu. They say some patients have the tell-tale signs while others have no idea why they're feeling bad.

"Fever, chills, generalized body ache," explained Dr. Uzma Aslam, with the Urgent Treatment Center.
"Another patient was very, very tired and didn't even know he had fever until we checked."

Dr. Aslam says a fever can be an early indicator of the flu and the moment folks feel bad they should grab a thermometer and head to the waiting room at their doctor's office.

"If you catch it in the first 48 hours, there are medicines that can help you rather than letting it run its course," she explains.

State officials say In Kentucky, most flu cases are cropping up in the Lexington area and in Elizabethtown, causing the upgrade from "sporadic" to "regional."

Dr. Aslam says most cases seen in her office have been Type A and everyone should work to prevent the spread.

"If you have symptoms, Use the universal precautions of washing hands, trying to keep isolated; do not go in public places."

As far as the local flu trends go, folks at the UTC say they're not seeing as many children this year. They say flu cases have been more common in adults. They attribute that to the fact that schools are doing a very good job keeping everything decontaminated in the classrooms. They also say some parents are more focused on getting their children flu shots, rather than themselves.

Dr. Aslam says even though the flu season is well underway, everyone should still consider getting vaccinated. She says although no flu shot is guaranteed to keep people from getting sick, she does say if folks get ill, it ought to be a more mild case.