Lexington’s number of flu cases this season doubled in one week. Peak season is near.

Lexington has had 141 flu cases this season after the virus hit the area hard in the last week, the Fayette County health department said Tuesday.

There are almost 100 more flu cases in the county this winter than this time last year, when the health department reported 42 confirmed cases. Of the 141 cases this season, 77 were reported in the last week, the health department said.

The health department continued to urge residents to get flu vaccines, as peak flu season in Kentucky is not until late January or early February.

“It really comes down to getting people vaccinated,” said Kevin Hall, communications officer for the health department. “Only 20 percent of the 141 people received a vaccination. Until more people get vaccinated, we are likely to see more of an increase.”

Kentucky has had “widespread” flu activity since December, and there are nearly 6,000 confirmed cases statewide. More than 2,000 children ages 1-10 have been diagnosed with the flu, the state health department reported.

Eight people, including one juvenile, have died from the flu this season, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

Eight Kentucky counties have more flu cases than Fayette, including Jefferson County, which has 2,468 cases this season.

Barren, Bullitt, Leslie, Oldham, Perry, Pike and Warren counties also have more flu cases than Fayette County. The number of cases in those counties ranges from 147 in Oldham to 435 in Perry County.

Hall said “it was only a matter of time” before the flu spread in Fayette County.

“We have been anticipating it hitting Lexington at the end of December or early January based on the number of cases seen all around us,” Hall said. People coming to Lexington for Christmas shopping, events and University of Kentucky basketball games could have led to the uptick in cases, according to Hall.

The 141 Fayette flu cases represent just a fraction of the actual cases. The total includes only those confirmed by a lab.

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

“Stay home when you’re sick, and if you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours,” Hall said. “We’re seeing it circulate by people going out when they are sick.”

Children younger than 5 years old — especially those younger than 2 — are most susceptible to the flu as are pregnant women and elderly people, according to the state health department.

The flu vaccine is available at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Newtown Pike from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Hall said appointments are not necessary, but he advised people to call because the price varies depending on insurance.

This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 9:31 AM.