CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — The Centers for Disease Control said more people are sick with the flu this week in North Carolina than at any other point since the flu season began in October.
The CDC reported flu activity in the state at the highest level it measures. Local health officials told Eyewitness News it's hitting students and teachers especially hard.
"We certainly aren't at an epidemic," said Dr. Linny Bakker, a pediatrician with Cabarrus Health Alliance. "It's on the rise, but not an epidemic."
The last few days have been especially hard on local schools. One Salisbury middle school reported 120 absent students on Thursday, which is three times the normal rate.
Educators in Cabarrus and Lincoln counties said dozens of students have called in sick to school this week. Calls to administrators at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were not returned Thursday.
Doctors said it's easy to tell when the flu season starts to peak, because of the influx of patients over a one-to-two week period.
"Once you start seeing these children, they all start to look alike," said Baker. "You can recognize flu from what you see. These children usually have red eyes, runny nose, sore throat and some cough."
Pediatricians said it's important for students and teachers to stay home if they feel sick.
"Flu is pretty obvious. It feels like you've been hit by a truck," said Dr. Mike Richardson of the Charlotte Medical Clinic.
Charlotte health leaders said it's an especially important year to get vaccinated against the flu. A typical shot covers three strains of influenza, and all the flu strains identified this year in North Carolina are contained in this year's vaccine, according to Richardson.
"It looks like this year it's a dead-on shot," said Richardson.
WSOC
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