The respiratory virus has started spreading in Utah and emergency departments are seeing an increase of patients throughout the state.

“In the last few weeks, we have seen this progress to a rapid increase in the number of people who are hospitalized for flu,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

The flu vaccine is widely available and will still provide protection. The sooner you get it, the better, since it takes approximately two weeks to kick in.

Last year, the flu hospitalized 470,000 people across the country and led to 28,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,881 hospitalizations and six deaths last season.

“We strongly encourage people to stay away from others if they are sick so we can limit how much Utah passes this around,” Nolen said.

Influenza is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. Symptoms can come on suddenly and include muscle aches, headache, chills, fever, sweats, fatigue, weakness, coughing, sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose. Children also can experience vomiting and diarrhea, the state health department reports.

If you get sick, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and tobacco, stay home, and cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Also, wash your hands frequently and don’t share utensils or personal hygiene items such as bath towels with anyone.

If you have a high, prolonged fever, trouble breathing, bluish color to your skin, a change in mental status and dehydration, get to your nearest emergency department or urgent health clinic as soon as possible.

Complications of the flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, worsening of chronic health problems such as congestive heart failure, asthma and diabetes. Sometimes, people with the flu also can be at higher risk of contracting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Children also can be more prone to sinus and ear infections.

In a press release, University of Utah Health stated that influenza is one of three respiratory viruses to watch for in the winter. Others are COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. All three viruses can cause similar symptoms. The only way to know for sure which virus you have is to get tested, if necessary.

“It’s also possible to get infected with more than one virus at once,” the release states. “Having a virus can lower immunity and increase the risk of getting another infection. If infections occur together, symptoms can worsen.”

GermWatch.org is reporting high influenza activity right now. The free tool that tracks and monitors sickness in the state also reports moderate activity of seasonal coronavirus, which is not the same as COVID-19, and parainfluenza, an upper and lower respiratory infection that occurs mainly in infants, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.