PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The number of flu cases in Florida remains low, but experts say the season is ramping up and it is much different than last year.
Flu season typically starts up in October and peaks between December and February.
We've now spent over a year and a half in a pandemic, which is the main reason experts say this flu season is shaping to be worse than last.
As temperatures drop and another flu season begins, residents in Northwest Florida have mixed feelings on how concerned people should be about this flu season.
"No one wants to get sick while they're on vacation, right?," Vicki Carmen said.
"The flu seems to have just disappeared," Teddy Batarau said.
Channel 3 asked a physician assistant at Ascension Sacred Heart if they have noticed anything so far.
In response, Scott Crawford said "so we've actually started to see the flu for the first time in two years."
Crawford told Channel 3 that his clinic sees two to three flu patients each day right now -- compared to one patient all of last flu season.
Doctors believe the reason for that comes down to a change in pandemic precautions.
"We have relaxed our measures so far this year," Chief Medical Officer with Community Health Northwest Florida Dr. George Smith said.
Right now, the Florida Department of Health says influenza 'A' is the predominant strain and cases are on the rise.
Last year, the agency says there wasn't a predominant strain.
Escambia County is one of over half in the state reporting increasing flu cases.
"Definitely seeing more COVID than the flu," Dr. Smith said.
Both health experts told Channel 3 that the loss of smell and taste are big indicators of COVID -- but many other symptoms are similar to the flu or cold.
Ultimately, it takes a test to say for sure which virus a patient has.
"I feel like a lot of people are focusing on COVID, and they're like -- oh shoot -- I may need to take the flu shot," Caitlyn Bushaw said.
According to the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, they've administered 570 flu vaccines this season.
That's nearly a third of the 1,969 shots administered in all of last season.
The state's Department of Health says it's simply not possible to predict what this flu season will look like.
It's not too late to get a flu shot. They are available at Escambia's Department of Health and many other pharmacies and clinics across Northwest Florida.