Flu season has arrived in Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Health announced Tuesday two lab-confirmed cases of influenza have been reported in an adult and a child in the central and Eastern Shore regions of the state.
The confirmed flu strains are type A (H1) and Type B (Victoria), the health department says.
The virus that causes the flu spreads from person to person through sneezing, coughing or direct contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms, which range from fevers, body aches, fatigue, coughing and a sore throat, usually appear between one and four days after someone is exposed to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health officials suggest avoiding contact with sick people and washing hands often to prevent the spread of the flu.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of six months.
Flu season normally begins in early October and ends in late May. While seasonal outbreaks can happen as early as October, during most seasons, flu activity typically peaks in January or later.
