With winter approaching, flu season has already begun to creep it's way into the community.

Ever since the summer, local health officials say the flu bug has been spreading and very rampant. Sandy Rice, Business Director of the Doctor John Warner Hospital, says within the past few weeks, the hosptial has been seeing more and more cases of the stomach flu.

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Food preparation can go a long ways in keeping yourself free of the flu. People tend to leave food out at various lengths of time. Rice recommends cooking your food and refrigerating it properly. She adds while hand sanitizers are great at times, nothing can be as effective as soap and water for your hands.

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This is the typical season to see pneumonia more. Rice recommends to always leave the house with a coat, and somtimes hat, no matter how nice out it may be. This is especially important for children.

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Rice recommends seniors take advantage of flu shots offered at most major pharmacies and also at the hospital.

For more information on the flu bug, you can go to www.djwhospital.com.