First Case of Flu in Maryland is Confirmed

State health officials say that it’s been confirmed: Maryland has its first official flu case of the 2015-2016 season.

An adult in the Baltimore metropolitan area was diagnosed with seasonal influenza, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported Thursday, Nov. 5.

It is the first case this season that has been verified by laboratory testing, according to the report.

Health officials are urging citizens to take precautions.

“The flu remains a highly contagious disease that seriously affects people each year,” Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell said in a statement.

“There are steps Marylanders can take to protect themselves and their loved ones—chief among which is getting vaccinated,” Mitchell added.

Related: Experts Urge Marylanders to Get Flu Shots

The person diagnosed with the flu has the type A strain, also known as H1N1, one of the strains this year’s flu shot protects people against, officials said.

Find where to get a flu shot in your area.

The respiratory illness is transmitted by coughing, sneezing and contact with infected persons or surfaces, according to state health officials, who say it can be most serious and even fatal for older adults and young children.

Characterized by a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a cough or sore throat, the flu may also cause sufferers to have body aches and fatigue, with symptoms starting one to four days after exposure, experts say.

People concerned they have the flu should stay home (rather than going to work or school) and avoid crowded places, health officials say. Here’s what to do if you think you have the flu, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Last season’s first case of the flu came on Oct. 9, 2014, according to state health officials.

The previous two years also saw confirmed cases of the flu in October, Patch reported.