County will distribute 50 more flu vaccines Brown County Health Department Director Judy Friederichs gives an update on the local flu situation during a news conference Monday (photo by H. Marc Larson) By Sarah Riley News-Chronicle Reports of influenza in Wisconsin have doubled in the past week and Brown County is warning residents to use common-sense precautions from spreading the disease locally. "We certainly have a lot of influenza activity going on in our area right now," Brown County Health Director Judy Friederichs said Thursday. "We're hearing about a lot of activity from healthcare providers." The federal Centers for Disease Control has classified flu activity in Wisconsin as regional, up from previous designations this season. Brown County had originally planned to distribute 1,200 influenza vaccine but it was able to obtain 50 more doses. It will give those to residents Monday who fit specific qualifications. "All told, we're going to be getting 50 doses from the state," she said. Infants aged 6 to 23 months old, seniors 65 and older, pregnant women in their second or third trimesters and those with chronic health conditions can receive the vaccine. Appointments are required and the shots are $15 each. Friederichs said the health department has been working to educate the public on how to limit the spread of influenza and protect themselves. Its latest warning is urging those who feel ill to stay out of hospitals, nursing homes and large gatherings. "We're trying to put the message out to stay home," she said. Hospital patients and the elderly are especially susceptible to influenza. Plus, people who are ill should be resting and avoiding holiday parties, Friederichs advised. Using common sense to avoid getting sick can go a long way - washing hands before eating and steering clear of large gatherings can help. The county health department does not receive each report of influenza but it does receive updates from healthcare providers who track the numbers. Friederichs said many healthcare centers have called the health department to inquire about antiviral treatments and recommendations from the CDC. While many hospitals and clinics are beginning to see an increase in the number of flu cases, a Wisconsin child likely died from the flu this week, the first report of such a death in the state this flu season, a state official said Thursday. Mark Wegner, chief of the state's communicable disease epidemiology section, said officials are still awaiting confirmation of the initial test that said the child had influenza A. State officials are not releasing details of the child's death, hoping to protect the child's identify. Wegner would only say the child had an underlying medical condition, though he wouldn't say what it was. Those with underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk in general from influenza. Wegner would not reveal the child's age or the area of the state where the child lived. WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee reported the child was from La Crosse. The Associated Press contributed to this story.