Flu season could be worse than past years, county health officials warn. What you can do

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is urging residents to prepare for cold and flu season, with the possibility that Colorado may start to see flu cases earlier than usual, according to a news release from the department.

Trends in other parts of the world show flu cases cropping up earlier than expected — in Japan, the flu arrived five weeks earlier than usual and spread widely with “far more” cases than in recent years, “resulting in over one hundred school closures throughout the country,” Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Matt Bauer said in a statement.

Flu seasons in countries in the southern hemisphere, like Australia and New Zealand, run from May through October. Both countries reported higher than normal levels of the flu this year, according to the release.

Who is eligible for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines?

Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, according to the county health department.
RSV vaccines are recommended for:
- People with underlying conditions.
- People who are in the 32nd to 36th weeks of pregnancy.
- Infants whose mothers did not get the vaccine during their 32nd to 36th weeks of pregnancy.

For information on Larimer County immunization clinics, visit the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment website.

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Other tips to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses

Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Sick? Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your shirt sleeve.
Consider wearing a mask whether you’re sick or not. Masks worn by infected individuals reduce the spread to others and can protect uninfected individuals from breathing in infectious particles around them.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.