If you haven’t yet gotten a flu shot, go get one. And make sure you wash your hands ”“ frequently ”“ using soap and warm water when you can, and disinfecting gels when you can’t.

Those two bits of advice are the best measures folks can take to avoid contracting the flu, say Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Sheila Pinette and Southern Maine Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Albaum.

Influenza is widespread in Maine this season, said Pinette, with new cases being reported every day.

She said emergency departments statewide are filled to capacity with people exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and there have been outbreaks in nursing care facilities.

The good news, said Pinette in a telephone interview Thursday, is that the flu vaccine prepared for this season’s outbreak is effective for the three different flu strains found in the state.

At SMMC, Albaum said 90 percent of the hospital staff has had a flu shot ”“ and those who haven’t are being required to wear a mask.

His advice to avoid the flu?

“Get immunized,” Albaum said.

And that advice is particularly important for folks in high risk groups ”“ children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with lung and heart problems or weakened immune systems. As well, he said, if those considered high risk are exposed to flu, they should see their physician for antiviral treatment.

He said the hospital is seeing patients with flu symptoms in virtually every location ”“ in outpatient practices, emergency departments, and patients are being admitted with flu.

The flu develops rapidly, starting with a fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing and muscle aches, Albaum said.

“This is widespread in Maine and in 40 states,” he said.

If people get sick, he said, they should stay home.

It is the same at Goodall Hospital in Sanford, where spokeswoman Kristen Hill said the increase in the daily census at the hospital is due, at least in part, to people being admitted with flu-like symptoms. As of Thursday afternoon, there’s been no change in visiting hours at the hospital or in its associated elder-care facilities, but Hill said signs were being posted suggesting that visitors who have a cough or other symptoms might want to schedule their visit for another time.

Two area school administrators say the flu hasn’t hit hard in their districts, so far.

Sanford Assistant Superintendent Eric Knowlton said absenteeism due to flu is sporadic ”“ there were quite a few students out before the holidays, but fewer now. He said right now, absenteeism due to flu is “average.” Knowlton said some students have been sent home sick, but not in large numbers.

“We’re in good shape right now,” said Biddeford schools Superintendent Jeremy Ray. He said school nurses are attempting to determine if it’s possible to schedule a flu shot clinic, to head off a flu outbreak.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.