Source: KHOU

This is shaping up to be a nasty flu season. The CDC is reporting the influenza virus is widespread across Texas. To make matters worse, this year’s flu vaccine is only 10% effective against the strain going around. “The flu vaccine has to be formulated months in advance in order to have it ready. It’s already been used in Australia, because they’re on a different season. It’s already been flu season there. What we found in Australia was the vaccine was only around ten percent effective,” said Catherine Troisi, PhD, infectious disease epidemiologist with UTHealth School of Public Health. Experts say getting a flu shot is still a good idea, since flu season could last several more months. Fever, chills, congestion, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue are common symptoms of the influenza virus.