Schools up and down the South Plains have been closing after confirming multiple cases of the flu in children.
Medical experts say the reason this year is so bad is because of different strains.
Dr. Fatma Levent, with Texas Tech physicians at Covenant Children’s, said they are seeing several different strains in patients.
“We’re seeing there are different strains circulating, most of it looks to be Influenza A and B and even the H1N1 or swine flu,” Levent said.
According to doctors, the flu vaccine protects against all of these strains, but one type is a little less protected.
“Type B is apparently a bit less effective,” Levent said. “However it is still much better than not having no vaccine at all.”
According to medical experts, children remain the most susceptible to all the strains and so they are urging parents to teach their kids good habits.
“They have it in their secretions, they share it,” Levent said. “Schools is where they can spread it around, and once someone starts coughing it will come right towards you.”
