Influenza cases continue to rise in Maine, with one expert saying they are spiking earlier this season than in recent years.

There were 864 cases of influenza reported during the week ending Dec. 20, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention — more than double the 320 cases reported during the previous week. Flu hospitalizations also surged from 27 to 69 during the same time periods.

“We anticipated a bad flu year, and we are certainly seeing that. It’s been horrible so far,” said Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Portland pediatrician and infectious disease expert.

Influenza cases can peak at different times during the flu season, which runs from October to May, but in Maine the peaks often occur in January and February. Typically, during the most severe weeks, Maine will experience thousands of cases every week.

Blaisdell said influenza cases are spiking earlier than in recent years and the circulating strain — Influenza A, H3N2 — is causing more severe illness. Last year, during the same reporting week, the Maine CDC recorded 124 influenza cases, with 10 hospitalizations.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, chief health improvement officer for MaineHealth, said primary care offices in their network are seeing many influenza cases.

“Flu has skyrocketed the last week, and hit hard,” Mills said.

Blaisdell recommends that those experiencing symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue and headaches, get tested shortly after symptoms start.

“The antiviral medications are only effective the first 72 hours after symptoms present, so get tested early to get treatment,” Blaisdell said.

Flu cases are rising on the East Coast, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing New York and New Jersey at “very high” flu levels, Massachusetts and Connecticut at “high” levels and New Hampshire in the “moderate” category. The federal data lags state-level data by one week, so Maine was still showing “low” flu activity, according to the U.S. CDC, but cases have jumped since then.

COVID-19 cases are also rising in Maine. There were 384 cases reported by the Maine CDC for the week ending Dec. 20, up from 233 reported in the previous week.

The influenza vaccine is available at primary care practices, pharmacies, clinics and other health care settings. Patients can receive their flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine during the same appointment.

Though the influenza vaccine is not a great match for the current predominant strain, Blaisdell said it provides protection against more severe illness and getting vaccinated helps reduce the spread of the virus.

Also, the circulating strain often changes, so the vaccine may be a better match for strains that emerge later in the season, experts say.

Mills said in addition to getting vaccinated, washing hands frequently, staying home when ill, wearing a mask and avoiding crowded indoor gatherings can help reduce the risk of contracting the flu.