The state health department’s most recent flu update describes the virus as "widespread" across Montana. More than 900 new flu cases were tallied last week.
Influenza activity continued to increase during the seventh week of Montana’s flu season.
Season-to-date, state health officials say there are now over 6,000 flu cases and almost 300 hospitalizations. Six influenza-related deaths have been reported. All but one of those fatalities were people aged 65 and older. All Montana counties report at least one flu case.
Health officials say the influenza vaccine is your best protection against the flu.
The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year’s flu vaccine is 45 percent effective in preventing the flu; perhaps not exactly a home run, but much better than this time last year when the flu shot’s effectiveness hovered around 29 percent.