Flu cases are well above last year's levels, especially in children, but no one in Grayson County is calling it a critical situation.

There is some concern, though, that there may not be enough flu vaccine for everyone who suddenly wants a shot.

Sue Vincent, director of the County Health Center, said Thursday the center has enough doses for those who made appointments earlier, but that's all.

"You could say that we're essentially out of vaccine," she said, "since we only have enough for children to get the second shot who've had the first one and for older people who called earlier."

News reports from other states have saturated newscasts around the country, creating some panic about the shortage of vaccine.

However, Vincent said many of the deaths reported as flu "probably are complications that come with the virus -- pneumonia and other infections." She said the flu virus weakens the immune system opening people up to other illnesses, some of them resistant to antibiotics (Viruses are not hampered by antibiotics.)

Schools in Gray-son County haven't seen any major empty seats in classrooms from the flu.

Nancye Hack, attendance supervisor for the district, said attendance had been 90 percent and above, "and we wouldn't consider closing schools unless absentees went to 80 percent."

Thursday the federal government announced it had 100,000 doses of the flu vaccine and would be "sending them out to critical states over the coming week."

Vincent said last year's flu season saw fewer cases than normal, so the manufacturers cut back production this year. She said it takes about a year to culture the vaccine.

What's new this year, all sources said, is that the flu season is hitting earlier and people are catching it easier, getting sicker.

Dr. Gary Weinberger at Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic in Leitchfield, said cases in children coming in to his clinic are up from last year, and they are sicker than they were last year.

"But I can't say that we have a special strain of the flu this year," he said.

Weinberger said quick treatment is the key, and his office can do a test that takes about 10 minutes and can tell a parent whether or not their child has flu.

"Anti-viral medication given within 48 hours of the flu starting," he said, "will shorten the course of the illness by about five days."

Vincent said the best defense against flu is prevention. "I've washed my hands," she said, "until they're peeling."

Recent cold weather should help, too. Temperatures around freezing act to slow down the virus, Vincent said.

"And don't panic," she added.