Trousdale County closed its schools this week due to the large rate of flu-induced absenteeism. In Macon County, RBS Elementary and RBS High School are the hardest hit, with approximately 11-14% of students out of school with the flu, or flu-like symptoms. According to Mike Prock, the county's Director of Schools, the other Macon County schools, are running in the neighborhood of 7.6% absenteeism due to flu or other illness. Macon County school principals say flu hasn't severely impacted Macon County yet, but it is becoming a growing factor in student absences.

Doctors in Nashville are characterizing the growing number of flu cases in Middle Tennessee as an outbreak, rather than an epidemic. Bad flu seasons run in cycles, according to State Health Department representative Diane Denton. "We haven't had bad years in a while," she says, "so, unfortunately, we're due."

Flu season generally runs from December to Mid-April. This year, cases have been reported as early as November. Denton says, "not only are we having a bad flu year, but an early year, as well." Despite dwindling supplies of the vaccine throughout the state, Denton says, County Health Departments still have sufficient vaccine to treat residents, though most is being reserved, since December 1, for people in the high-risk category. She urges everyone to obtain a flu shot, particularly people who are in the high-risk category, such as women who are more than three months pregnant; anyone over the age of 50 or under the age of two; and people with chronic health conditions. A still large supply of "Flu Mist," a nasal alternative to the vaccine, exists for people outside the high-risk category.

As regards the number of flu cases that have been reported, Denton says, "only one case of flu actually has been reported in Macon County as of December 8th, and no cases in Trousdale County have been reported." The number of cases versus the number of cases reported differs greatly. Most parents don't report a case of flu to their Doctors. Most Doctors fail to report flu cases to the state. Thus, there are many more cases of flu, than are reported. Despite this, Denton says, "we have seen the number of cases reported to the Health Department double within the last week. "

There have been 3,462 new cases reported across the state between December 1-8, making 6,749 the total number of reported cases since November.

Denton says these numbers reflect both flu and influenza like illnesses and are not considered to be an accurate account of all the cases of flu in Tennessee because flu is under reported and there are illnesses with the same symptoms that are not flu. "The numbers do give us a picture, though," she says, "of flu on the rise in Middle Tennessee.

Other states having bad flu years are Texas and Colorado.

State Health professionals say with flu on the rise this year, people should be particularly careful to wash their hands often and thoroughly. After handling items, like telephones, before and after meals, and any time you've been in the company of others, such as in a classroom, washing your hands with hot water and soap for at least a minute, will help contain flu in Middle Tennessee.