Health officials are advising people to take precautions to avoid catching or spreading the flu, which is currently circulating at a high level in Monroe County.
Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza says as of December 23rd, there were 365 confirmed cases, sending 109 people to the hospital.
That's double from the prior week, and there are several more months left in flu season.
Dr. Mendoza is reminding people that the flu is a respiratory viral illness, and now is a good time to remind residents about ways to prevent the transmission of the illness.
"Cover your cough. Stay at home if you feel ill, and make sure you wash your hands, any time you're in contact with anybody. The illness is contagious through droplets in the air," he said.
With several more months of flu season ahead of us, he says it's never too late to get vaccinated.
"We want to do everything we can to prevent the transmission of flu and so when I talk to my patients about getting the flu shot, I say, it's the most you can do, so you might as well take advantage of what you can do," he said.
Dr. Mendoza adds people cannot get the illness from the vaccine.
Groups at highest risk for contracting the flu include children under 5, people 65 and over, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions like heart and lung disease or diabetes.
Dr. Mendoza says influenza is contagious up to one day before some has symptoms, and can remain contagious until about a week after the patient begins to have symptoms.
He says people often describe the flu as being "hit by a truck."
Flu typically begins in October and can last through May, with January and February being the peak months.
With the flu prevalent in the area, local hospital systems are putting visitor restrictions in place.
They include limiting patient visits to two people at a time, no visitors under the age of 14, and people with flu-like symptoms are asked not to visit hospitalized patients.
UR Medicine restrictions are in effect starting Wednesday at 8am at Strong and Highland Hospital, the Golisano Children's Hospital and the Wilmot Cancer Center.
Rochester Regional Health is putting its restrictions into effect Wednesday at Rochester General, Unity Hospital, United Memorial Hospital, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic.
Here's Dr.Mendoza talking about how the flu is circulating at a high level in Monroe County: