Doctors warn of early flu season in Arizona

It's arguably the fifth unofficial and most hated season, that's right, we're talking about flu season.

With runny noses, body aches, sore throats, and sometimes much worse, flu season doesn't typically rear its ugly head until later in the year.

"October, November time frame... sometimes even late into January," Dr. Devin Minior said.

University of Arizona officials are ringing the alarm that the flu has already landed.

"Headache, sore throat, cough, just general weakness, not feeling well," Dr. Minior said.

U of A officials say there have already been more than 100 cases of flu-like symptoms and 37 of those are confirmed cases of the flu.

Doctors say the majority of those reports were people suffering from an influenza-like illness, which is a virus that can have very similar symptoms as the flu, however, it's not as contagious or severe.

Doctors add that your best defense is getting a flu shot. Vaccinations are recommended for ages 6 months and older.

"There's actually a special vaccination," Dr. Minior said.

So how do you know it will work? Doctors say only time will tell.

"Last year happened to be a mild season for AZ," Dr. Minior said.