CORBIN — By Jeff Noble/Staff Writer

Health officials around the Tri-County area report a slower than usual flu season so far. That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news is that the flu virus will be picking up next month, which means more cases of chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, fatigue and discomfort are on the way.

But officials say some simple steps can be taken to prevent the flu from turning into another kind of “March Madness” — and they’re as simple as washing your hands and covering your mouth.

“We’ve had a very mild flu season. The primary flu that’s been showing up this year that’s rearing its ugly head is the Type ‘A’ flu. Type ‘A’ is still the most common type of flu in this area, and we’re treating it with an anti-viral drug. We haven’t had many cases because it’s also been a late flu season. But that could change,” said Rita Miracle, the disaster preparedness coordinator for the Knox County Health Department.

“It’s because of a real mild winter. People haven’t been cooped up indoors and they’re not breathing on each other because the weather’s been quite mild for winter,” added Dr. Marion Pennington, a regional epidemiologist with the Laurel County Health Department.

Epidemiologists study the distribution and patterns of events and characteristics dealing with health, or as Dr. Pennington puts it, “We monitor every type of infectious disease out there.”

“I talked with Bell County’s office earlier today and it’s been quiet there. We’ve had some cases in Laurel County from people going to the doctor’s office, but we don’t report those cases until they’ve been laboratory confirmed. But usually when we hit March, we’ll see a bit more,” said Dr. Pennington.

“We’ve had a few cases in school, but nothing major yet here. The milder weather has helped out,” confirmed Tamara Johnson, the public health nursing supervisor for the Whitley County Health Department.

Miracle added the reason why change could be in the wind is because flu activity is picking up.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), all of Kentucky is now in the “Regional” category, which is two steps up from the “Sporadic” category our state was in about three weeks ago.

“On a scale of ‘No Report’ being the areas having the least amount of the disease spreading, and ‘Widespread’ being the most, ‘Regional’ is just below ‘Widespread.’ Kentucky’s joined by Virginia, Illinois and Missouri as the three other states in our region that’s now in the ‘Widespread’ category,” Miracle told the Times-Tribune at Health Department offices in Barbourville on Tuesday afternoon.

What Knox County, Whitley County and Laurel County don’t have at this time are any cases of the H1N1 flu virus. And while some area school systems were shut down Monday and Tuesday, it was due to the big snowfall that came through the state Sunday.

“No H1N1 virus reports have come our way so far, and no schools have been shut down in Knox County,” noted Miracle.

What public health officials locally are looking at is data from the CDC.

For the period ending Feb. 5-11 of this year, influenza activity continues to increase nationwide. Kentucky and 11 other states reported regional influenza activity. Kentucky is located in Region 4, which is also made up of the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

During the Feb. 5-11 period, Region 4 reported outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was “Normal,” with 7.2 percent of respiratory specimens reporting positive for the flu for the three-week period from Jan. 22 to Feb 11. The number of areas in Region 4 reporting “regional” or “widespread” activity was 2 of 8. A total of 119 cases of the A (H3) influenza virus were reported in Region 4, with 34 cases of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus also being reported. In all, 277 cases of the Type A flu virus were reported in Region 4 during the three week period, with 133 cases of the Type B influenza virus reported. According to the CDC, there were no pediatric deaths reported in that period.

What the CDC did point out in the report was that, “Nationally, a low but increasing number of influenza positive specimens have been reported this season, with influenza A (H3N2) viruses being the most common... Over the past several weeks, the proportion of 2009 H1N1 viruses identified has increased nationally and in several regions, most notably in Regions 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) and Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada. and in the U. S. territory of Guam).”

As for what can be done to fight the flu, health department officials say the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure” still applies today — but some of the things where one could pick up the virus are much different from years ago.

And, as all three county health departments add, quite surprising.

“The nastiest thing you  have around you is your cell phone. Think about it, the phone’s in your pocket, it’s in your hands at different times, at work, at school, in the house, and when you travel. There’s more germs on a cell phone than on a toilet seat,” said Dr. Pennington, who recommends using a Clorox hand wipe or a hand sanitizer on your cell phone to kill the germs.

Another item that’s used a lot and are potential germ machines are the shopping carts you use when you go to the grocery store or discount store. Most stores have wipes available before you go to the carts. Dr. Pennington suggests using the wipes on your cart before you start shopping.

Johnson also pointed out another everyday piece of today’s home as a major source for germs.

“You know those remote controls you use when you turn your TV, your DVD player, your electronic components on? Yep, they’re used a lot by different people’s hands. Clean them with a hand sanitizer or hand wipe. And that goes for things like door knobs and light switches.”

Most of all, those classic ways to reduce your chances of getting the flu remain the ones that are time-tested — practice good hygiene, cover your cough and wash your hands.

“We teach the students in school to ‘cover your cough,’ and it works. The kids cover their mouths with their arms and elbows. It’s easy to do, and it’s helping to keep the germs from spreading,” said Miracle.

Johnson agreed. “Washing your hands always helps, and also, if you’re sick, stay at home. So many people who are sick will go into work, because they have to. And all it does is to spread the germs, which can make more people sick.”

“The flu is a strange virus. But it’s never too late to get a flu shot,” said Lisa Clark, the Public Health Supervisor and Nurse Practitioner for the Knox County Health Department.

Flu vaccines are still available in Knox County at the Health Department, located on Hospital Drive in Barbourville. They cost $25, and the health department accepts Medicaid and Medicare coverage. They’re open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and walk-ins are accepted. More information is available by calling 546-3486.

You can also call the Whitley County Health Department for more information in Williamsburg at 549-3380, or in Corbin at 528-5613. And in Laurel County, the Health Department’s number is 864-5187.

All three agree it’ll help keep you healthy, so you, your family and friends can enjoy the real “March Madness” that sweeps our region — in person at the games, and on the tube.

And on our sports section.