COLDWATER (WTVB) - Flu season is about to flare up in Michigan and everyone from the Health Department to the Red Cross is asking everyone to prepare now by getting a flu shot. The Red Cross's Vicki Eichstaedt says just because the flu pandemic of last year didn’t turn out to be quite as severe as officials thought it might be, the flu still kills thousands of people every year.

She adds that anyone wanting to help prevent any kind of epidemic follow some simple advice: if you don’t feel well, STAY HOME. The state health department has information on the spread of seasonal flu and avian flu online at Michigan.gov/flu.