The first flu case in our area has been reported in Douglas County. The man in his 40's has recovered from the illness; however, health workers are expecting many more cases to follow.

The illness they're tracking right now is Influenza A, the more serious strain of the bug. Influenza B has been in our area for a couple months now.

Statewide, both Nebraska's and Iowa's health departments report sporadic flu activity. However, Sarpy, Cass and Pottawattamie Counties had no lab-confirmed cases of Influenza A as of Tuesday.

"Things you can do to try and prevent getting the flu would be washing your hands frequently," said Epidemiologist Dr. Anne O'Keefe of the Douglas County Health Department. "If it’s on your hands, you can give it to yourself by touching your eyes, nose or mouth."

She also urged people to cover their coughs and stay home when they're sick, so they don't spread the illness to others.

Dr. O'Keefe said it's not too late to get the flu vaccine, which is in ample supply throughout the metro. Flu season does not typically peak until February or March. And this, health officials say, is a typical flu season compared to last year's H1N1 pandemic.

There's a new type of vaccination this year, as Dr. Harold Huff of Methodist Physicians Clinic explains. "Because some of the seniors didn't respond as well to the standard dose, they actually doubled the strength," he said, "so they're less likely to have complications."

Dr. Huff added, "It’s important for all of us, particularly for kids who are going back to school this week. It’s starting to show up. We’ve already had some patients in our office who have had it. And that’s usually the way it starts, with a little trickle to start with and then it explodes."

He said there's a one to two day incubation period with the flu, with symptoms including congestion, coughs, aches, pains and fever beginning shortly afterward.

It's a good idea, he said, to get to the doctor right away. "If we see them in that first day, typically, we can get them on that (anti-viral) medication that will make those symptoms less severe."

Treatment, he said, is especially important for those at-risk of serious complications, the extremely young, the extremely old and pregnant women.

Jenni Russell, a mother of six aged 11 years to two-weeks-old, is still contemplating vaccinations for her family. "It seems like we get them for a few years, and they end up getting the flu. And the couple years we didn't, they wouldn't get the flu. So it's kind of, I'm still not sold, I'm not sure, which way to go."

But Dr. O'Keefe said the shot itself does not cause illness. "It can take up to two weeks to get immunity from it. So, if you happen to be exposed before then, you could still get the flu. But it's not caused by the shot."

Russell's youngest, baby Alison, is too young for a vaccination. Children must be at least six months old. Her mother is hoping the fact that she's nursing provides some immunity.

"For me," she said, "it's another story, trying to take care of six kids with the flu, could be trying."