Flu cases continue to rise in western Maine, causing more emergency room and acute care visits as doctors stretch to meet demand.

Central Maine Healthcare, which owns Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston as well as a variety of care facilities and physician practices, said Friday that the system is experiencing more hospital admissions and emergency and outpatient visits amid the season’s earlier-than-usual surge. Experts say the region’s most common strain, Influenza A, H3N2, is typically more contagious and severe than other strains.

Statewide, approximately 8% of doctor’s office visits last week were for influenza-like symptoms, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This time last year, it was less than 4%.

Maine’s doctors are experiencing the increased demand through appointment waitlists, call delays and staffing shortages, said Michael Stadnicki, a doctor at Central Maine Family Medicine in Lewiston.

“Everyone that works in health care also has the ability to get sick,” Stadnicki said. “There’s more people on the team that are out, so less hands to answer phones, less people to get patients in rooms and be seen, and providers that may succumb to this as well.”

Androscoggin County had 102 positive cases and 17 flu-related hospitalizations last week — the fourth highest in the state. York County had the most positive cases at 246, and Kennebec County had 82 cases but only one hospitalization.

There have been 10 deaths statewide from flu this season, including three in the last week.

Unlike COVID-19, experts say the flu comes on abruptly. A patient might feel fine one hour and be overcome with exhaustion and chills the next, making it easier for the virus to spread undetected in the day before symptoms start and the days after they end.

It’s typical to see an increase in the flu after the holidays, but this year’s spike began in the middle of December, causing “missed school time and holiday plan interruptions for our pediatric patients,” said Lara Walsh, medical director of MaineGeneral Pediatrics in Augusta.

While younger residents ages 5 to 24 are reporting the most positive cases, those 65 and older have had the most hospitalizations due to flu. Three long-term care facilities in Androscoggin County have reported outbreaks this season, and Stadnicki said that number could rise into February.

“The flu seems to be more intense for people this year, especially for folks that have underlying vulnerabilities like heart disease or COPD, or are taking some medications that might suppress their immune system,” said Amy Madden, medical director for HealthReach, which operates community health clinics across central Maine.

“Not a great time,” she added. “Get your flu shot.”

This year’s vaccine protects against three main seasonal flu viruses. While there’s a slight mismatch in the vaccine due to viral mutation, experts say it still offers strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization.

At the same time, vaccine fatigue and hesitancy are on the rise nationwide. Coupled with less exposure to common colds during the pandemic, Stadnicki says it’s become more difficult for people to naturally fight the flu.

“I think this really is one of those culmination of perfect storms: ‘I haven’t had natural colds and flu in a handful of years,’ maybe someone’s skipping the vaccine this year or last year or both, and now we’re starting to finally mix more and more,” he said. “So you’re definitely getting hit.”

Express care facilities in central and western Maine report high numbers of patients with flu or flu-like symptoms. Jason Brown, senior medical director of MaineGeneral Primary Care, said staff is working to meet increased demand for same-day visits.

Madden said HealthReach clinics are seeing more patients with acute onset of respiratory symptoms and those who say they have been sick at home for a week and are “just not getting better.”

Patients who already have the flu are advised to rest, hydrate, stay home and speak to their primary care doctor about medication to treat symptoms.

But prevention is the best tool to fight the flu, experts say. People should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching their faces and support their immune systems through adequate sleep, exercise and a balanced diet.

“You don’t want to miss living your life,” Stadnicki said. “So whether it’s a vacation, a get-together, a night out, anything that anyone’s looking forward to — if you don’t do the right things to mitigate your risk, you might miss something that you actually want to do because you don’t feel well enough to do it.”