Dr. Howard Backer with the state Department of Health Services, says officials are starting to see widespread signs of the flu:
 
What we’re seeing now is a lot of absenteeism, a lot of upper respiratory infections, and many of which are testing positive for the influenza virus.
 
Backer says the peak of the flu season will probably come in about six weeks, so it’s still not too late to get a flu vaccine and head off the virus.
State health officials monitor flu cases through reporting by doctors, hospitals and medical labs.