![Flu Season Starts Early In Louisiana This Year](http://townsquare.media/site/35/files/2018/09/GettyImages-86349795.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Flu Season Starts Early In Louisiana This Year
Louisiana Department of Health is seeing an early start to flu activity, even resulting in a school closure in the Lafayette area due to flu cases. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says it is a reminder the time to get the annual flu vaccine is now.
“It’s a very early start to the flu season for us. If you ask the CDC, they’ll tell you the formal start to the season is not until early October, but for us in Louisiana, it is right now,” said Kanter.
Kanter says the flu shot is in stock in preparation for the flu season.
“Doctors offices are stocking them up, pharmacies are building their stock as well, but they are available,” said Kanter.
Kanter says flu season can be unpredictable as to when it can begin or how intense the season can be from year to year.
“Last year we saw 14,000 hospitalizations and 1,400 deaths and the year before that, 1,600 deaths, so we’ve had two really bad seasons back to back. We really don’t want to have a third,” said Kanter.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![FBI Sets Record Straight on Trump Being Hit by Bullet During Assassination Attempt](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161923127.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![There Are 4 Big Reasons Why Louisiana’s Auto Insurance Rates Are So High](http://townsquare.media/site/182/files/2022/04/attachment-RS47246_GettyImages-480652712-scr1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Forecasters Watching Tropical Disturbance Headed for Gulf of Mexico – Should Louisiana and Texas Be Worried?](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/09/attachment-Hurricane-Nigel.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fallen Lafayette Police Officer Identified, Remembered as Family Man, Friend, and Protector](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-26T100047.692.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Condolences Pour in for Fallen Lafayette Police Officer Killed in Jeanerette Standoff](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T202550.435.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nick Saban Calls Former LSU Football Star, Lafayette Native a ‘F-ing Problem’](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-1775238930.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![1 Lafayette Officer Dead, 3 Injured in Hostage Situation in Jeanerette, Louisiana – Suspect Identified](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/03/attachment-Lafayette-Police-Department-Photo-courtesy-of-Lafayette-PD-Facebook.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Armed Hostage Situation in Jeanerette, Louisiana: 2 in Custody, 1 Officer Injured](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/03/attachment-Do-Not-Cross-Police-Tape-Photo-courtesy-of-David-Von-Diemar-jM6Y2nhsAtk-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Unlocking The Secrets Of Crab Shedding: A Cajun Delicacy Revealed](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Softshell-Crabs.jpg?w=980&q=75)