Flu season hits Central Valley

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Busy urgent care rooms and long wait times can only mean one thing in the Central Valley -- flu season.

It is flu season and its effects are not just being felt by people. The urgent care in the Valley is seeing an increase in patients.

What makes this year different is the spread of Influenza A and B at the same time. Doctor Griffin Bailey at Willow Urgent Care in Clovis says this is putting a strain on their facility.

"Of course this has increased our wait time as much as an hour and a half to two hours, but it is nothing like going to the er where they may be there from eight to 10 hours," Dr. Bailey said.

On a normal day, they see between 40 to 50 people but now they are seeing almost double.

"We have been seeing everything from the common cold to strep, pneumonia and the flu strains."

Bailey says they are treating more people with Influenza B and even though they are seeing a lot of patients they believe the flu won't hit its peak until the end of this month.

Luckily, he says his staff is ready to take on the challenge.

Bailey said, "We have been able to get through it with very little casualties in the sense of getting the flu or getting sick."