An increase in flu cases

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has issued a press release, noting that the Centers for Disease Control has declared a health advisory.

Increasing reports of severe respiratory infections among young and middle-aged people due to H1N1 infections have resulted in Michigan’s flu activity being upgraded from local to regional.

According to Steve Todd, health officer for the local health agency, the upgrade in activity level is due to increases in laboratory confirmed cases of influenza, along with increases in influenza-like illness, which are being reported in multiple jurisdictions across the state.

Seasonal flu outbreaks occur every year, and typically spike in January and February, Todd said.