Are you sure you have the flu?

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A string of influenza has been affecting people all throughout the United States, even killing in some states.

15 deaths have been reported statewide in Indiana, and the number of those getting sick is increasing.

However, it’s not just influenza that’s affecting residents in the Wabash Valley.

In Terre Haute, doctors said they’re seeing not only influenza, but another bug affecting patients making their way into hospital emergency rooms.

This second bug has been referred to, by a Union Hospital doctor, as simply the stomach virus.

People often make the mistake of thinking they have influenza, when they actually have the stomach bug.  This is common, because the two sick seasons overlap.

Other than the overlapping, the two illnesses are noticeably different.

Here's the big difference between the two:

• FLU - symptoms usually include cough, sore throat, fever, severe body-aches and fatigue;
• A STOMACH VIRUS - can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Dr. John Bolinger at Union Hospital said a few weeks ago, the stomach bug was the prevalent illness.

But now, they’re seeing more influenza-like symptoms.

There has been speculation about the radical changes in weather causing people to be more susceptible to getting sick.

Dr. Bolinger said “absolutely not.”     

“Weather has nothing to do with whether you’re sick or not,” said Dr. Bolinger.  “The only way that it does, is like I said before: in the colder weather, people tend to congregate more inside.  They’re in closer quarters, and they’re more likely to pass the germs from one another.”

Now, if you are one of the lucky ones that managed to dodged getting sick, and are worried about keeping your immune system in best possible condition against influenza, health officials suggest you go get a flu shot.

A representative from the Vigo County Health Department stated it’s one less thing you, and your family, would need to worry about.

Also, a few very important, very simple actions will help keep you, and others, as germ free as possible:

• Wash your hands frequently and
• Sneeze into your elbow.