Influenza continues to be a widespread problem across the state of Kansas.

State officials are urging Kansans to take precautions to avoid getting and spreading the flu.

The message is especially important for older adults who are at greater risk of suffering potentially life-threatening complications associated with the flu.

Secretaries for both the Kansas Department for Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services encourage older adults to get the influenza vaccine, if they haven’t already, and seek treatment when they experience early signs of flu.

Currently, 5% of Kansans are showing flu-like symptoms, according to KDHE.

“Flu season has arrived earlier and impacted more people than in recent years,” KDADS Sec. Shawn Sullivan said.

In Kansas, so far this flu season (from October 2012-current), approximately 640 people have died because of flu and/or pneumonia-related complications.

Some vaccine providers may have exhausted their vaccine supplies, while others may have remaining supplies of vaccine.  For a list of providers still reporting supplies in your area, visit http://flushot.healthmap.org/