A few weeks ago, it appeared as if the flu season in Pennsylvania was peaking, but then there was a resurgence of cases last month, and, according to the state Health Department, we’re probably going to be in for several more weeks of high numbers.

The Health Department reports that as of the week ending Feb. 15, there were 54 flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania and nearly 85,000 cases so far during the current flu season, which started on Sept. 29 and will run until May 16. The Health Department monitors flu activity throughout the year but emphasizes surveillance in the fall and winter.

For the last month or so, the public’s attention has been diverted to the coronavirus, which has virtually shut down several major Chinese cities, especially Wuhan, where the major outbreak of the virus was first detected.

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out, however, that your chances of getting the coronavirus are not high; even among those who contract this new contagion, just 2% to 3% of the cases are fatal.

In the U.S. as of Tuesday, there have been 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus — none in Pennsylvania — and no deaths. The flu, on the other hand, has afflicted some 30 million, and there have been about 25,000 deaths from flu-related complications so far this season.

In the five-county Times News region, Northampton County is the hotbed of flu cases. The state Health Department reports that there have been 3,550 confirmed flu cases in the county through last Saturday.

As for the other counties, Lehigh has had 2,893; Schuylkill, 1,723; Monroe, 1,577; and Carbon, 510. The five-county total is 10,253. Allegheny County has had the most cases with 9,590, while tiny Forest County (population 7,300) had the lowest number with fewer than five.

“Flu” is the shortened term for “influenza,” a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and, on occasion, death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year, but even this is not a guarantee for immunity.

Health officials say that those who get the vaccine but wind up with the flu anyway will generally experience milder symptoms that they would have otherwise.

The flu is different from the common cold, because it comes on suddenly and includes some or all of these symptoms — headache and body aches, fever, dry cough, sore throat, congestion and fatigue.

It spreads from person to person through coughs and sneezes that infect others up to 3 feet away. People can also contract the flu by touching infected objects, such as doorknobs, light switches, credit card machines, etc.

Even during a two or more day incubation period, the infected person can pass along the illness. This can last up to a week after the flu becomes full-blown in your body.

While the flu can be fatal, it is especially worrisome for older people, pregnant women and those with certain conditions such as heart disease, asthma and diabetes, and if untreated can lead to pneumonia.

This year, the flu has hit young children especially hard, and parents are cautioned to keep a close eye on infants and others with compromised immune systems.

The CDC said that the number of deaths in the country varies widely each year and can range from 3,000 to 49,000, depending on the virulence of the strains.

CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every season.

Conspiracy theories about getting the flu or other prevention shots complicate the job of health professionals and, in some cases, lead to the spread of disease. With the proliferation of social media sites, these baseless claims attract gullible followers who, in turn, share concerns with others in their circle of contacts.

They are even spread by officials who should know better. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, repeated a fringe theory during the weekend on Fox News suggesting that the ongoing spread of the coronavirus is connected to research in the disease-ravaged epicenter of Wuhan.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com