Have your friends, family or coworkers caught the flu recently? They're not the only ones. Flu season is here. In fact, cases are climbing in Nueces County as temperatures start to drop.Six year old Aiden Garza paid a visit to Amistad Health this week.He ended up with the flu this past season, mother April Mauricio said.His mom, April, said he started feeling sick on his last day of school before winter break.When theyre that age, there is no boundaries, Mauricio said.She noticed he wasnt his usual self.Hes normally bouncing off the walls, excited about life. He was very fatigued. He didnt want to move.She took him to the emergency room where she learned how much the flu has been spread around.When we got there, the nurse said out of 160 something kids, 120 were positive for the flu, Mauricio said.CEO of Amistad Health Dr. Eric Baggerman said the spike in flu cases hit Nueces County in December, and as the weather gets colder, its not likely to go away just yet.When youve got cold, dry air, our immune system, particularly in our nasal passages which is where most of this flu comes in, doesnt do as good of a job fighting it off, Baggerman said.Each year, the flu changes with different strains.Our body hasnt seen it before. Its different than what our body has fought off before. So it typically hits a little bit harder, Baggerman said.Thats why Baggerman stressed the importance of getting the flu vaccine.Each year our flu vaccine is a little bit different. We make it trying to anticipate what were going to arm our body against when we get that flu vaccine, Baggerman said.Because anyone can get the flu.It doesnt matter how many times youve gotten the flu, youre going to get knocked down again. It can take out the whole household, Mauricio said.If you do get knocked down by the flu,expect it to last a while.Its not uncommon for flu to hit someone hard for seven to 10 days and symptoms for 14 days, Baggerman said.If someone is feeling a cough, congestion, sore throat, a headache, or even a stomach ache, its important to reduce transmission to those who are high risk.You should wash your hands often, sneeze into your sleeve, and stay about three feet away from others.Dr. Baggerman said everyone should get vaccinated, especially those considered high risk like kids under two, those over 65, those with lung conditions, and those with deficiencies in their immune system.For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.