Flu checks in early at Washington State University

PULLMAN — The flu has arrived at Washington State University and Whitman County earlier than expected, health officials said.

The first case at WSU was diagnosed Sept. 28 at the campus Health and Wellness clinic, and doctors have seen 30 more since then, said Dennis Garcia, senior associate medical director.

This is the earliest Garcia has seen the flu in 18 years.

“Usually we don’t start seeing cases until December of January,” Garcia said in a WSU news release.

Scratchy throats, coughs and fevers of 101-102 degrees are forcing students to miss classes, he said.

WSU Health and Wellness is holding vaccine clinics the next two Fridays and encouraging students and staff to get their shots.

Whitman County has had 10 confirmed lab cases of the flu in the past week, said Troy Henderson, county Public Health director.

“It’s a little bit sooner than normal,” Henderson told The Moscow-Pullman Daily News in a story Wednesday.

It is usually about a week of fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue, he said.

The early onset may not necessarily mean this will be a bad year for flu. This season’s symptoms are no more extreme than normal, Henderson said.

In addition to the vaccine, the spread of the flu can be slowed if people frequently wash their hands and stay home when they start feeling ill, health officials said.