Flu is ‘widespread’ in Kentucky, and health officials expect more cases in Lexington soon.

Despite Fayette being the second-most populous county in Kentucky, there are 10 counties with more confirmed flu cases this season in Kentucky.

But as people come to Lexington for Christmas shopping, local health officials expect increased cases of the virus as the season progresses.

Four people, all of whom are older than 18 years old, have died from flu complications this season, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Kentucky has “widespread” flu activity with 1,622 lab-confirmed cases since Aug. 4.

“We extend our condolences to the families who have suffered losses during this flu season,” Dr. Angela Dearinger, Commissioner of DPH, said in a statement. “These personal losses are a reminder for all of us that flu can be a serious illness, for young and old alike, and we strongly encourage people to protect themselves by getting a flu vaccination. This is especially important for children and adults at high risk for complications related to the flu. Stay at home if you have the flu or flu-like symptoms and to avoid contact with others.”

Fayette County has 29 flu cases this season, which is less than Barren, Bullitt, Jefferson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Oldham, Perry, Pike and Warren counties, health department data shows.

“We anticipate it increasing in Lexington throughout the month as people start coming to shop, go to movies, ballgames and events and bringing the flu with them,” said Kevin Hall, communications officer with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

This time last year, Fayette County had just four confirmed flu cases, Hall said. In 2017, there were 45 by Dec. 13, he said.

Nearly 200 people died from the flu last season in Kentucky, including two children. The flu often takes two weeks to develop and can cause fever, headache, body aches, cough and runny nose.

Children younger than five years old and especially those younger than two are most susceptible to the flu, along with pregnant women and elderly people, according to the state health department. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every season,

This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 3:21 PM.