The number of flu cases in Arizona has undergone a huge spike this flu season. The Arizona Department of Health Services shows that there have been 1,143 cases so far this year. At the same time last year, there were 157. The average for this time of the year? 142 cases.

What's most unbelievable about that number is not only the amount, but how early it is, as the number of new cases usually peaks in February.

"Flu is really difficult to predict," says Jessica Rigler, the bureau chief for public health preparedness for the Arizona Department of Health Services."It behaves differently every single time."

Rigler believes that it may just be that people are getting the flu earlier, and that the yearly total may end up being similar to previous years.

Rigler also has a theory as to why the virus is showing up so early this year.

"The majority of our cases are influenza A, the H3 type, which is the same as what we saw last flu season," she said. She then explained how there were even 100 or more cases a week into June and July,"so it's possible that we never really saw a complete end to last year's flu season and we're just picking up where we left off."

Rigler says that the best ways to protect yourself in this crazy flu season is to get flu shots and wash your hands.