Doctors warn Central Florida is seeing a flu season surge

Central Florida is experiencing an early surge in H1N1 flu cases as health officials prepare for additional respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and RSV, to spread in the coming weeks.When symptoms appear, identifying the specific illness is critical for treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cold symptoms usually peak two to three days after infection. Flu symptoms often have a sudden onset, while COVID-19 symptoms can appear between two days and two weeks after exposure.Medical experts emphasize early diagnosis for available treatments. Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health noted that antiviral medications require prompt action. “There are COVID and influenza antiviral drugs available if you do get infected, but they need to be taken within a few days of symptom of onset,” Pekosz said.Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.