The year-end holidays have gone now, which means the annual rise influenza is approaching. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the timing of the flu is mostly unpredictable and is different in every part across the country.

Generally the flu season starts in early October and comes to an end through late May. It officially began on October 4, 2015 for the 2015-16 season, with estimates that it would run through May 28 of the New Year, with a likelihood that the activity will peak across the US between December and February.

In a county forum, Sara Lopez, a registered nurse at Summit County Public Health, recently explained that it’s been a slow start to this season nationally. Generally they see the peak in February, but this time they just don’t have any idea.

She noted that the first laboratory-confirmed case of the flu this season has already been reported in Summit County, but with many rapid tests as evidence of others, though, there is a possibility of false-positives with the more brief analyses. However, such evidence is precisely the reason why the CDC has recommended everybody to get the annual vaccine as soon as it’s accessible, as early as September.

Furthermore, after getting an injection, a person can take many weeks to develop the proper antibodies for the infliction protection, which also suggests that an individual must get vaccinated with the release of the new strain each season.

She said, “If you get exposed — you got your vaccine, and then, a week later, you got exposed to someone with influenza — you might not be well covered until at least several weeks have elapsed and your body has enough time to mount enough protection”.