Flu Season in North Alabama - FOX 54 WZDX – Huntsville News, Weather and Sports

The flu continues to be a problem in North Alabama, with doctor's offices and pharmacies busy taking care of patients.

This year's flu season has hit hard and fast.

"All of a sudden we started seeing lots of cases, several cases everyday," said Dr. Lon Newlin who works at North Alabama Medical Care on Memorial Parkway.

Newlin says they see several flu cases a day and just as many people come in wanting the vaccination. His office is just one of many that have run out of the vaccine.

"We have run out a couple of times and in fact we had just reordered just recently and we just got some more in a few days ago," he said.

Four CVS Pharmacy locations and two Walgreens Pharmacy locations in Huntsville confirm that they are out of the vaccine but hope to have a new supply sometime this week. Those locations are:

CVS Pharmacy

- Whitesburg Drive

Oakwood Avenue

S. Memorial Parkway

Bailey Cove Road

Walgreens Pharmacy

-Brandon Street

-Carl T Jones Drive

Newlin says if you suspect you have the flu it's important to get to the office right away to get Tamiflu. The medicine is only good for three to five days after you contract the virus. The drug can greatly reduce the severity of the flu symptoms.

If you have a headache accompanied by a fever, body aches, nausea or vomiting then there is a good chance you could have the flu. Newlin says although this is a tough flu season this is not a pandemic flu and, so far, he has not had to have any patients hospitalized.