Influenza visits Valley early

Instead of the usual seasonal influenza cases in February and March, influenza showed up in the Valley early this year and is infecting more people than normal, according to Dr. Dean Bartholomew at the Platte Valley Medical Clinic (PVMC).

The PVMC began seeing above average numbers patients with flu symptoms as early as November.

“It’s the most I’ve seen in my fourth flu season in the Valley,” Bartholomew said.

Bartholomew said it was rare for two different strains of influenza to be active at the same time.

Influenza B began infecting people in November and then Influenza A appeared just befo...