DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Hospitals and paramedics are responding to more cases of the flu across North Texas. In Dallas, Children's Medical Center has seen 103 cases of the flu each of the past two weeks, compared to just 52 cases over a week in the middle of December.
"That comes pretty naturally with this type of viral illness. It really spreads throughout the community and seems to infect a certain number of people where we see the peak and then it kind of dwindles off," says Children's Health Pediatrician Patricia Rodriguez.
Rodriguez says both kids and adults can still benefit from a flu shot.
"The window of opportunity is still there," she says. "It does take about two weeks for the shot to take effect in the body. In the meantime, make sure you continue with good hand hygiene, avoiding exposure to people who are ill."
She says kids may be at greater risk because they are returning to school and in confined spaces where kids will touch each other's books and desks.
"Kiddos, unfortunately, sometimes just don't cover their mouths when they cough and then sometimes when they do, they don't have access to a sink and can't wash their hands," she says. "The other thing is cover your mouth. Do that in the elbow or upper arm, so you're not doing it right into your hand."
In Fort Worth, MedStar responded to 242 cases of flu in December, up from 123 cases in November. In December of 2017, MedStar responded to 199 cases of flu.