Both Whidbey General Hospital and Naval Hospital Oak Harbor are reporting an increase in confirmed flu cases, said naval hospital spokeswoman Trish Rose.

It’s hard to pinpoint exact numbers because some doctors’ offices don’t test for the flu, they just treat the illness.

Those who do aren’t required to report confirmed flu cases to the county unless there is a death, although she does hear from clinics and hospitals, said Colleen Keefe, Island County’s communicable disease coordinator.

What she’s hearing is the flu is not as bad as it was in the past few years. Part of that might be because of an aggressive effort to vaccinate personnel at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, she said.

If you haven’t gotten a flu shot, it’s not too late to get one, she said. Flu cases are expected to continue to increase.

Flu is a serious contagious disease that affects people of all ages. It can cause mild to severe illness and in some cases lead to hospitalization and death. Symptoms may include fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.