The Center’s for Disease Control has issued an epidemic alert for much of the United States as influenza cases have spiked in 36 states, including Texas.

According to Net-Health, flu cases are expected to peak in East Texas in mid-January.

Within the past week, there have been nearly 3,000 cases of flu state-wide, which is three-times as many compared to mid-October. Approximately half of the reported cases of flu in Texas were from the 5 to 24 age range.

Locally, Family Nurse Practioner Dawn Barnes encourages residents to get a flu shot, even though she has stated they’ve seen more return visits than years past from those that have received the vaccination.

Those with respiratory issues and the elderly should particularly use caution and take more as much preventative measures as possible during the peak flu periods.