Florida โฃHealth Officials Urge Flu Shots asโ Cases, ER Visits Rise
TALLAHASSEE,โ FL – October 26,โฃ 2025 – Florida health officials are strongly recommending residents get vaccinatedโ against the flu as the state โsees an โฃincrease in influenza cases and emergency room visits. The Centers for โฃDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports most people recover from theโค flu in โฃa few days to less than two weeks, butโข complicationsโ like pneumonia โคcan be โlife-threatening.
Flu symptoms includeโฃ fever or feelingโ feverish/chills (though not โขeveryoneโฃ with the flu will have a fever), cough, sore throat, runnyโข or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.Some individuals, particularly โchildren, may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
The CDC states people with the flu โare contagious starting one day before symptoms appear and can remain contagious โfor up to five to seven days after becoming sick.
Health experts emphasize several preventative measures:
* Vaccination: โCOVID-19 and flu vaccines are safe and available for everyone 6 monthsโ and older. The RSV vaccine isโข available to elderly people, โฃpregnant women โคand infants.
* Hygiene: Frequent handwashing with soap and water,โ or using hand sanitizer, helps prevent the spread of viruses. Covering your mouthโ when sneezing or coughing is โฃalso crucial.
* Masking: Wearing a mask in enclosed spaces, such as airplanes, โขcan reduce transmission risk. Flu cases โdropped โsignificantlyโข during periods of widespread masking.
* Isolation: Individualsโ experiencing flu-like symptoms – chills, fever, fatigue, congestion, cough, runny nose, and headaches – should stay home toโ avoid spreading โthe illness. if โpublic โคappearances are unavoidable, masking and social distancing areโ advised.
* Immune System Support: Strengtheningโฃ theโ immune system through healthy eating habits, sufficientโฃ sleep, regular โขexercise, and stress managementโข can help protect โคagainst infection.
