February is usually the peak of flu season, but national health officials say the number of cases and hospitalizations this year have been at their lowest levels in decades.
That trend is reflected in South Dakota where state epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says there have been 45 lab-confirmed flu cases, seven hospitalizations and two deaths in the state so far this winter.
Clayton the preventative measures people are taking because of COVID-19 are a major contributor to the lower number of flu cases.
Clayton says a flu shot can be taken by most people in tandem with a COVID-19 vaccination.
One down side to the number of flu infections this year is the number is so low it’s difficult for the CDC to do its annual calculation of how well this season’s flu vaccine is working. The low numbers could also make planning for next season’s flu vaccine tougher to do.
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