NJ Flu Risk 'High' As Whooping Cough Hits Schools: Find Out Where

Chances are you, once again, know somebody in New Jersey who got the flu this year – and they could be impacted by a potentially dangerous strain that was behind a worldwide pandemic.

You yourself could also be at risk yourself, but your child also could be exposed something that's also highly contagious and potentially dangerous: whooping cough.

The number of flu cases in New Jersey are on the rise this year as New Jersey is one of 15 states to report having "high" activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health.

A dangerous strain that was behind a 2009 pandemic has re-emerged in a big way in New Jersey, according to the state Department of Health (see numbers below).

Some counties, such as Atlantic, Mercer Monmouth, have had high numbers of positive rapid flu tests compared to last year based on surveys conducted by the state Department of Health (see lists below).

Two districts, meanwhile, have recently informed parents and children that their families may have been exposed to whooping cough.

Chatham Superintendent Michael LaSusa sent home a letter last month to families warning them that there was a confirmed case of whooping cough, or pertussis, and a suspected case in the district. Both cases were at Chatham High School. Read more: 'Highly Contagious' Pertussis In Chatham School: Superintendent

Just on Wednesday, Summit Superintendent June Chang sent a letter to families warning them that there were two possible cases of whooping cough in the district. Read more: 'Highly Contagious' Whooping Cough In Summit School

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air by a cough or a sneeze, school officials say. The disease begins with cold symptoms and a cough, which become much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughing fits followed by a whooping noise.

People with the illness may have a series of severe coughing fits followed immediately by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath, school officials say.

The flu data, meanwhile, is based on state Department of Health laboratory specimens dating back to the beginning of the season, which officials say was October 2018. Nobody has died from the illness but there have been six severe cases, according to the department.

Last year, New Jersey had an especially bad season that was attributed to infections from a flu strain known as H3N2. It responds poorly to vaccinations and is particularly dangerous to young children and older adults over the age of 65.

This year, New Jersey has had a high number of H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the "swine flu," an unpredictable virus that caused a pandemic in 2009.

H1N1 swine flu isn't always severe, but when it's bad, "it's really bad," according to WebMD. Patients hospitalized with pandemic flu have an 11 percent fatality rate, data from California suggested in the publication.

So far, the health department surveys have found at least 2,078 positive flu tests in New Jersey compared to at least 1,207 cases at this time last year. Here is the breakdown:

Dec. 29, 2018:

Dec. 30, 2017:

Here are the New Jersey counties with the most and least affected positive rapid flu tests from the health department's surveillance.

As of Dec. 25, 2018:

As of Dec. 26, 2017:

Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, body aches, headaches and fatigue. The flu virus is spread through the air, from coughing and sneezing, or by touching something that someone with the virus has touched.

You can pass the flu to someone else both before and while you are sick. Adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and as many as five to seven days after becoming ill, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Some people, especially young children and those with weakened immune systems, may be able to infect others for an even longer time.

To treat the flu, use over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or cough syrup to relieve symptoms. Rest in bed and drink lots of fluids. If you contact your doctor within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, you may be able to take an antiviral drug that will reduce the severity of symptoms and the length of illness.

Here are some additional tips:

• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid touching your face — your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid others who are sick.
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue.

CDC photo of H1N1