Urgent care centers deal with flu season arriving weeks before usual

PITTSBURGH — Flu season is getting worse weeks before its usual peak, and that could potentially lead to longer wait times at urgent care facilities.

Channel 11 News received a few calls from viewers Monday morning who said wait times at local urgent care centers were more than a few hours.

However, most locations reported seeing patients relatively quickly, and faster compared to a traditional hospital or doctor’s office.

Officials are warning that wherever you go, there will likely be a crowded waiting room of people seeking treatment for flu-like symptoms. This season is shaping up to be one of the worst flu seasons in recent years.

An estimated 200,000 are hospitalized every year with the flu. Officials said the most vulnerable are the elderly and very young.

WPXI