Body aches, fever, runny nose and cough: if you've had any of these symptoms you're certainly not alone.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says more and more people are getting the flu.

The department says there were nine flu-related hospitalizations in the first full week of December. In the latest report, there were 71 people who went to the hospital during a week in mid-January.

At Linn County Public Health, nurses are still ordering in more shipments of this year's flu vaccine. Experts say this is the most effective way to protect yourself.

"There's several different strains but the ones were seeing most commonly are covered by the flu vaccine," Senior nurse Heather Meador said.

And nurses say even if people already got the flu, they still should get the vaccine. There's four different strains commonly found in Iowa.

"So it can help protect you from picking up one of those other strains." Meador said.

This year's flu has all of the typical symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, body aches. Some in Cedar Rapids says the cough is the worst part.

"Mine was really back cough and it ended up turning into bronchitis, so it was just an absolute nightmare I coughed so much for a week," Stacie Riley said.

Another incentive for this vaccine, experts say it'll reduce the symptoms if people happen to catch the virus.

"I always get it, it's just sort of a precaution for me," James Phan said.

For those who already have symptoms, nurses advise to get rest, drink liquids and monitor symptoms.

"If you do think you have the flu, if you're having the fever the body aches call your doctors office they might want to give you an anti-viral or give you some testing," Meador said.

And don't forget to be a good neighbor. Experts say don't go to work or send kids to school when contagious.