Heath officials across Indiana are seeing an increase in influenza this year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, circulating strains appear to be Influenza A H3, which can cause severe symptoms and sometimes death in the elderly and very young.

Symptoms of influenza can resemble a typical cold, but come on quickly and are more pronounced. A person may experience fever, headaches, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.

Health officials offer the following tips to help prevent the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, stay away from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• If you’re sick, stay home from work and school, and refrain from running errands.
• Cover your cough – cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands – washing your hands often will prevent the spread of germs. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand scrub, or hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth – it’s the quickest way to spread germs.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods.