Flu cases spike around Alexander City but it’s not as severe as last season

File / The Outlook

While flu cases in the Alexander City area have spiked significantly the last two months, the season isn’t nearly as bad as last year, a Russell Medical official said. Russell Medical verified 192 cases through this week; 438 positive cases were documented last season.

In the middle of December, indications were the flu season in central Alabama, and particularly the Alexander City area, would be mild.

While verified cases of the flu have multiplied 27½ times since then, it’s still not as severe as last season, according to Traci Kelley, the infection prevention coordinator for Russell Medical.