Incidents of Flu Appear to Be on the Rise in Vermont

Incidents of the flu appear to be rising in Vermont.

As of last week, about 20 percent of hospital visits were for respiratory illnesses and about 5 percent of visits to doctors' offices were for flu-like symptoms. Three adults have died so far, all of them in December.

Vermont Health Department officials say the rates of the flu are higher than other years in Vermont but the number of deaths does not appear out of the ordinary. A total of 10 people died from the flu last year; seven in 2011 and none in 2010.

The Health Department says it has not heard of any shortage of vaccine or whether certain cities or regions have been hard hit.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.