The flu is widespread in the state, and Butler County has one of the highest rates of documented cases statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Between Sept. 29 and Dec. 28, there were 83 cases of influenza type A and 37 cases of influenza type B in the county. There also was a case of influenza type U, totaling 121 cases in the county.

The general flu strain is the same flu from 2009 with young children and young adults being affected more than older adults.

The only counties that had higher numbers of flu cases are Allegheny County with 159 cases and Blair County with 189 cases. According to Aimee Tysarczyk of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there are 2,180 lab confirmed cases of the flu in Pennsylvania.

But numbers will never be precisely accurate because not all flu cases are documented. Dr. A. Thomas McGill, vice president of quality and safety at Butler Memorial Hospital, said documented type B cases may not be precisely accurate either because some of those documents tests were likely false positives.

Rapid one-hour flu tests have a high false positive rate when a strain isn’t widespread as is the case with influenza type B, McGill said. These rapid tests are included with the confirmed cases.

But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 98 percent of flu strains are type A. Tests for that strain are more accurate because it is more widespread.

It takes several days to receive the results from a traditional test, but the rapid result test is more efficient for the patient since it can be determined how to proceed with medication more quickly.

The number of cases at Butler Memorial was not immediately available.

At the Butler Community Health Clinic there have only been a couple flu cases because most patients have been vaccinated.

“Ninety percent of all patients receive the flu shot,” said Dana Haas, a board certified nurse practitioner at the clinic, who was getting over the flu herself this week.

The clinic does not test patients for the flu. Instead, the staff checks the symptoms patients have to see if they match the symptoms of the flu.

McGill said it’s not too late to get the flu shot. Peak season lasts 10 to 12 weeks, and it takes two weeks for the antibodies in the flu vaccine to take effect.

The flu usually peaks in February.

According to Tysarczyk, frequently washing your hands, getting plenty of rest, eating well and avoiding crowded areas will help in flu prevention.