DeKALB | Influenza can strike at any time.

Flu season is upon us, and the chance of a severe flu outbreak this winter is still possible.

“There are an estimated 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 influenza-related deaths in a typical year,” said Karen Grush, public health director for the DeKalb County Health Department. “Although it’s still early, one really doesn’t know. We could have a very mild year or we could have a year where there’s a high incidence of influenza.”

DeKalb residents can reduce the likelihood of illness by receiving an influenza vaccination.

“At the very first signs of influenza [coughs, body aches or pains, fever], a physician can treat the virus with antiviral therapy within the first 48 hours,” said Dr. Cynthia Susedik, medical director of the Immediate Care Board at Athletic and Industrial Medicine Immediate Care Center, or AIM, in Sycamore. “This has shown, on average, to limit the number of days the patient will suffer from the flu.”

Getting the vaccine early is recommended.

“Historically, people want [the influenza vaccination] in October or November,” Grush said.

Grush said the supply of the flu vaccine arrives in the hands of providers later each year. Vaccination after the early months is still beneficial though.

“If you don’t get the vaccination, you’re exposed,” Grush said. “We’ve really been trying to encourage people to get it. If they get it now, they would still be protected if there were to be an outbreak.”

Certain myths surround the influenza vaccination and can raise questions in the public mind.

“One of the biggest myths is that you can get the flu from the flu shot,” said Justin Carlson, director of marketing at AIM. “However, if you get the flu after receiving the shot, it means you were already sick with it.”

Carlson said it usually takes three to four weeks after receiving the shot for the vaccine to take full effect.

“I have gotten the flu shot in past years,” said junior visual communication major Elaina Bell. “I think it’s important to get it each year as a means to lessen the symptoms of the flu, because while it’s not completely preventative, it will help.”