Federal, state and local health officials all agree about one thing of the flu. Cases are increasing at an alarming rate.

From Sept. 29 to Dec. 6, the Pennsylvania Department of Health had reported just three confirmed cases of influenza Type A in Carbon County.Within a month, as of Jan. 3, that total has climbed to 84 confirmed cases.Denise Kennedy, spokesperson for Blue Mountain Health Systems, said from Dec. 7 to Jan. 3, 75 cases were confirmed in their facilities alone, with 40 at the Gnaden Huetten Campus, 31 at the Palmerton Hospital Campus, and four at the Summit Nursing Home.Figures for St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus were not immediately available.The department of health said this season 988 cases of the flu have been confirmed in Lehigh County, 200 cases in Schuylkill County, 555 in Northampton County, and 48 in Monroe County.There have been 36 deaths in Pennsylvania from the flu this season, with 32 of them in people over age 65.Marsha Resh, director of the emergency department of Blue Mountain Health System, said of the confirmed flu cases locally none have so far been life-threatening.Some did result in hospitalization.Flu and moreShe said emergency rooms are having longer waiting times than usual because of the increase in patients with flulike symptoms."We're seeing a lot of children usually below the age of 2," Resh said.Many of them have RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which infects the lungs and breathing passages, instead of the flu, she said.RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.In addition, RSV is being recognized more often as a significant cause of respiratory illness in older adults.Regarding the flu, Resh is comparing the outbreak this year to two years ago when the swine flu, a similar strain to this year's outbreak, was rampant.Type A flu virus is constantly changing and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics.The influenza A2 virus (and other variants of influenza) is spread by people who are already infected.The most common flu hot spots are those surfaces that an infected person has touched and rooms where he has been recently, especially areas where he has been sneezing.Resh said the best prevention to the flu is conscientious hygiene.People should wash their hands if they cough.More to come"We haven't hit the peak season yet," Resh said. "We are just coming over the first surge."The CDC agrees, saying it doesn't anticipate the peak in the nation to happen later this month.Some medical facilities have taken precautions to protect patients.Geisinger Health System has issued restrictions temporarily prohibiting children under the age of 5 from visiting children's and women's inpatient units because of the seasonal increase in pediatric RSV cases.Nursing homes have placed signs on the doors asking people who have colds to postpone their visits."I strongly suggest that if you're sick with the flu, don't come to the hospital to visit anybody," said Resh.PrecautionsIn response, Catholic churches have taken special precautions during communion.The Diocese of Allentown said that effective at Masses last weekend, churches have changed liturgical practices to protect the health of others during flu season.The practice of drinking from a chalice of consecrated wine is suspended.The exchange of the sign of peace is to be offered without any physical contact.If a priest extends the invitation for the sign of peace, instead of a handshake, parishioners may bow, nod or wave to people nearby.Matt Kerr, spokesman for the diocese, said, "The Diocese of Allentown encourages the clergy and faithful to observe the necessary standard precautions to protect the health of others during this flu season, and especially with the risks related to the flu."These directives are temporary but will remain in effect until Holy Thursday, which this year falls on April 2.One apparent reason the flu is such a problem is because the type of mutation of the influenza that happened this year isn't responding to the flu vaccine given in flu shots.Lisa Johnson, vice president of public relations for Blue Mountain Health Systems, said the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta is still recommending that people receive the flu vaccine.She said although it isn't effective against the most prevalent mutation of the flu, it does help to prevent many strains of flu.Also, she said, "If you get the flu shot, many times your symptoms may not be as severe or they might not last as long."She said flu season lasts until March and the flu shot is still available.