Flu cases continue to be on the rise across our region.
Just last week the number reached more than 1,000 cases in Allegheny County, up from 500 reported cases at the beginning of January.
Family physician Dr. Natalie Gentile spoke with KDKA Radio Friday morning about the symptoms to look out for.
"We're talking significant chills. Like those chills that make you just, you're teeth are chattering, you can barely move, fevers that can be high, congestion, cough."
She says to also watch out for signs of secondary bacterial infections like pnemonia.
Can you handle it yourself? Or should you see a doctor?
"There are medications like Tamiflu that are out there. It can slightly shorten the course of illness. Don't think 'magic bullet' with Tamiflu. Otherwise, it's really just a ton of rest, isolating, and hydration," she said.
She believes that the low vaccination rate is playing a role.
"Vaccination rates are not super high for flu in general compared to other vaccines unfortunately, and I think honestly a lot of it is that first, there's mistrust in healthcare at baseline and second of all I think that people aren't taking the flu as serious as they should," she said.
She added that it's still not too late to get at flu shot.