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(Iowa) -- Hospitals and clinics across Iowa are feeling the strain as flu cases surge, with patients experiencing a wide range of symptoms.
"The flu this year has been really, really odd. I've had people come in with just GI complaints, others with only fevers and body aches, and some with what you typically think of as the flu, wheezy cough, shortness of breath with every step. It’s run the whole gamut this year," said Dr. Leonard Kerr with MercyOne Emergency Care.
Kerr says clinics are working to reduce wait times as healthcare facilities report significantly more flu cases than in recent years.
"Just for instance, at Mercy we have wait times that are just exceptional. We try to fit everybody in as fast as we can, but sometimes our wait hours are six to eight hours. We've made some big moves to fix that, but they're still long," Kerr explained.
He notes this is the first major flu season Iowa has seen in several years. Kerr recommends washing your hands regularly and getting a flu shot.