Get ready for flu season: New Hampshire health officials have announced the first positive influenza test result identified in the state public health laboratories.
The positive test result means the influenza virus is out and about. The Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging residents to be vaccinated against the flu at their earliest convenience.
New Hampshire Public Health Director Jose Montero says the positive lab result is slightly earlier than usual, but it's the third year in a row the announcement has been made in September.
Typical flu symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
An average of 23,000 people die each year in the United States due to influenza. Last flu season in New Hampshire, 14 influenza-related deaths were reported.
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