As per recent reports, it has been revealed that South Dakota, US, has been witnessing low and slow flu season. However, the authorities concerned have warned that localities should not stop adopting safety measures as every flu season differs from the last one.

Official data revealed there were 217 flu cases same time last year and in 2009-2010, there were 1,899 cases. Both the figures are quite big when one gets to know that there have been 34 influenza cases this time in the city. State health officials told that people should take full precautions as number of cases are going to rise in the coming few weeks.

State epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said that these viruses are quite hypothetical. No one knows when they attack and in which form. This is the reason that he has been asking people to take full precautions against influenza, as he is quite sure that they are going to have a major outbreak this time too.

The Department of Health informed that they have adopted a strategy, as per which they release influenza cases report every weeks. This gives people the required information about the prevailing trend. Lon said that there has been decline in the number of influenza cases and all the credit goes to increased vaccine rate.

Dr. Fares Masannat, who is infectious disease specialist with Avera, told, “Last year we used to see quite a few patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Some were admitted to the hospital, some on the pediatric ward and some of them were very sick with influenza”.

He added that this time things have become little slow and unknown. But he would like to recommend that people should not stop taking seasonal flu vaccination as it has been the key way to keep seasonal flu cases in control.