The first cases of influenza virus have been confirmed in Lewis and Clark County.

Three people in the county have influenza A, the Lewis and Clark County Health Department announced

Thursday.

According to Kay Robertson, Lewis and Clark County Health Department public health nurse, all three people confirmed to have the flu were adults.

Robertson stressed that everyone, regardless of age, should take precautions against the virus. She said the best prevention for the flu is getting the flu vaccine, noting that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months and older.

Robertson added that, unlike in some recent years when there have been shortages of the vaccine, the health department and all the clinics in the area have ample supply of the vaccine.

"The flu season is here and the message is there is still time to get a vaccination for influenza," Robertson said. "It's your best shot at prevention."

Influenza season most often peaks in February, but influenza viruses can continue to cause illness into the spring. Protection against the flu develops within two weeks after being vaccinated.

Influenza is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs that is caused by the influenza virus. It is not the stomach virus commonly referred to as the flu.

Symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, sore muscles and the chills. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea.

On average, 200,000 people are hospitalized every year because of influenza and 36,000 people die. Elderly people, young children, and people with certain health conditions may be at high risk for serious flu complications.

Robertson said the vaccine should prevent or reduce the severity of the flu for all three strains of the virus that are expected to be found in Montana this year -- two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.

Besides getting the vaccine, keys for preventing spread of the virus include, frequent and thorough hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you have flu symptoms.

Robertson also urged what she called "grandma advice." This includes drinking plenty of fluids, getting eight hours of sleep a night, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

The state's first influenza case this season was reported in Deer Lodge County in early December. Subsequent cases were confirmed in Cascade, Gallatin and Missoula counties.

Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported that the strain of the virus that causes most of the flu in the United States -- and the one responsible for the three Helena cases -- is resistant to the influenza antiviral Tamiflu.

County health department nurse Beth Cottingham said there are other antivirals that work on the strain that has appeared in Helena.

But Cottingham said the trouble with antivirals is that they only work if administered within the first 48 hours after infection, and people often don't realize they have the virus that soon.

Cottingham and Robertson both stressed that it is much better to prevent infection by getting a vaccine and following the other prevention strategies.

The health department offers flu shots on a sliding-fee scale every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the flu hotline at 457-8904 or visit the health department at 1930 Ninth Ave.