Flu symptoms Symptoms include a fever, cough, stuffy nose, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. People with a chronic medical condition, pregnant women, young children and adults 65 or older are more susceptible to the flu.

Flu shots The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, 200 Maine St., provides flu vaccinations at $25 for children under 35 months old and $30 for those 3 and older. It is open Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The department is closed every day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A sudden spike in influenza cases is forcing Lawrence Memorial Hospital to require that anyone visiting patient areas wear a mask, and the hospital is discouraging children from visiting patients altogether.

LMH officials reported as recently as Jan. 15 that it had not been hit hard by the flu. But Janice Early, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said Wednesday that 24 cases have been confirmed at LMH over the last three days.

She said eight people are currently hospitalized with the flu.

“We’re definitely experiencing a peak right now,” she said.

Early said that last year, LMH had required that anyone who had not received a flu shot to a wear a mask. But this year’s requirement goes for everyone — visitors, caregivers and other staff — regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated.

The requirement is effective immediately and will not be removed until at least Jan. 28, Early said.

“We’re kind of taking a big step,” she said. “We just feel like it’s really important. Many patients are immunity-compromised already.”

“The last thing they need is to be exposed to the flu and other contagious illnesses,” added LMH infection preventionist Julie Robbins in a statement.

The Centers for Disease Control released a report last week estimating this year’s flu vaccine is, on average, 23 percent effective.

The CDC said it first started conducting annual vaccine effectiveness studies in 2004. Since then, vaccines have ranged from 10 to 60 percent in effectiveness.

Dr. Lee Norman, the chief medical officer at Kansas University Hospital, said last week that it was still important to receive a vaccine since it will help prevent severe cases of the flu.

Shots are recommended for anyone 6 months or older and are especially important for people under 5, over 65 and anyone with a pre-existing medical condition, according to a statement from LMH.

The hospital also recommends staying home from work or school and limiting contact with others. Robbins said that infected individuals are generally contagious for about seven days after the onset of the symptoms.