The Vermont Health Department is reporting a late-season surge in flu cases.
Health officials say there have been confirmed cases and outbreaks of the flu in long-term care facilities in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Lamoille, Rutland, Windsor and Chittenden counties.
Deputy State Epidemiologist Susan Schoenfeld says so far this has been a relatively mild flu season, but that the illness is unpredictable.
The Health Department issued a health advisory on Wednesday for health care providers to give antiviral treatment to long-term care residents who have confirmed or are suspected to have influenza.
Older people, young children, pregnant women, health care workers and anyone with serious chronic illness such as heart disease are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from the flu.