Emergency rooms in Grey Bruce are seeing a higher than normal number of people with flu like symptoms this month.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor Hazel Lynn says emergency rooms are reporting nearly half of patients are coming in with flu-like symptoms.
She says this is not unusual to see during flu season, however, they would normally see these rates in January and February, not in late October.
Health officials also keeping a close eye on the absentee rate at schools in the region.
Health Unit epidemiologist Alanna Leffley says they are seeing a small number of schools with higher than expected absenteeism related to influenza-like illness.
She says they are working with those schools to enhance cleaning of high traffic areas but it is most important for sick children to remain at home.
Leffley says in order to decrease the spread of influenza to others in the community, the health unit would like to remind those who are experiencing flu-like illness to stay at home.
She says people with influenza like illness are generally recovering within four to five days, however, if symptoms persist and worsen they should seek immediate medical care.