If you haven't had a flu shot yet, doctors recommend getting one soon.

Flu cases are on the rise in Brazos County after a slow start this season.

From August to December, the Brazos County Health Department tracked 860 cases of flu, seeing a peak the week of New Year's Eve.

"We're definitely seeing it pick up. Last month, we just had a few cases. This month, we've had quite a few more cases. We are seeing both strains A and B, both of which are included in the vaccine," said Dr. Lon Young with Caprock Emergency Room in College Station.

He expects this year to be a typical flu season but with a more effective vaccine.

"Each year, the flu vaccine is different and some years it's a good match. Some years it's not. This year it looks like it's going to be a good match, which makes it even more important to get a flu shot because it's more likely to provide protection for you from this year's strain. We expect it to be in a widespread mode here in the next few weeks, so this would be a perfect time to get the flu shot," he said.

Down the street at The Med Plus, Dr. Brian Goerig says it will take a few months to know just how bad this season is.

"Last year, we had a relatively calm season. We're probably seeing a few more this year comparatively to last year. But once again, we'll kind of see how that goes moving forward," said Goerig, a Family Medicine Physician.

Classic symptoms include body aches, fatigue and fever.

"The vaccine is obviously the best method for that, but besides that, it's just good hygiene making sure you wash your hands. You know, coughing into a tissue, washing your hands, but mainly just good hygiene, making sure you're getting adequate nutrition, drinking plenty of fluids. Keeping yourself healthy is also a good way to prevent, hopefully, from getting the flu," said Goerig.

The Brazos County Health Department says around 300 people had the flu at once in August last year, but new cases began to decline as more people got flu shots for the season.