The Center for Disease Control is reporting that this flu season is the worse in almost decade. The state of Idaho hit particularly hard, the Department of Health and Welfare is reporting that flu deaths in the Gem State have jumped to 46.
It's prompted business closures, school closures and impacted many people.
Cascade School District canceled classes on Thursday and Friday last week due to a large number of kids out of school with the flu. Classes are back in session on Monday, but Cascade School District Superintendent Pal Sartori says the district is monitoring the situation.
Doug’s Burger Den in Eagle closed for the afternoon last Monday due to the number of employees out sick.
“I think it's just one of those years and unfortunately, we got struck with it,” Doug’s Burger Den owner Jacki Corta said. “Never have we had to shut down business due to the flu."
Nearly a quarter of Jacki’s employees came down sick, forcing the restaurant to close its doors because of the flu for the first time in its 25-year history.
“To try and maybe slow the spread if we could,” Corta said.
Doctors say the first 48 hours is critical. If treated, doctors can provide medication to help with the symptoms and the spread of the flu.
“In the first 48-hours we can use Tamiflu, which will help reduce the symptoms, it may also help reduce the risk of having complications from the flu, it may also help reduce transmission of the flu to other people,” Dr. Derek Hamblin with the Primary Health Group said.
However, when many of the symptoms are the same, how do you tell the difference between the flu and the common cold?
Hamblin describes the flu as a bad cold. Your symptoms are going to be more severe, you’ll have a higher fever, severe coughing and congestion, as well as body aches, chills, and fatigue. Typically, with the flu, you’re also going to have more of the symptoms as opposed to maybe just one or two.
“It's more so the body aches, the feeling tired, the fevers, the chills, everything kind of together. Typically, with a flu, again, you're going to have a lot of symptoms, with a headache, congestion, body aches, a fever. So more than just one or two little things,” Hamblin said.
However, it’s one or two little things, like washing your hands, that can have a huge impact on stopping the spread.
“Really trying to stay on top of when customers leave, getting out, wiping down, bleaching down tables, and just making sure everything is wiped down. Handles on doors,” Corta said.