“We haven’t hit the peak yet,” El Sanadi said.

So far, El Sanadi said, the flu bug doesn’t seem to make people as sick as in prior years. However, he said, that could change.

The flu season is usually over in Florida in February or early March.

“People need to be vigilant,” El Sanadi said. “If you haven’t yet had the flu or your vaccination, you should get your flu shot.”

The vaccine should reduce the intensity and duration of the illness. Those with children should consult a pediatrician before vaccinating, he said.

Fox News reported that this year’s predominant flu strain afflicting the nation, however, resembles a bug in 2003-2004 when the vaccine “wasn’t a good match” for combating the virus. There were about 40,000 associated deaths that year.

CDC spokesman Thomas Skinner said it’s too early to tell how effective this season’s vaccine is. He said the agency is collecting data and will release a study in the coming weeks.

Doctors give these common-sense tips to keep the illness from spreading so easily:

People who are sick should stay home, and everyone should wash their hands frequently and sneeze or cough into shirts or elbows.

Unless people are gravely ill, they should probably stay home or consult their family physician before heading to an urgent-care clinic or, especially, an emergency room, doctors say.

Otherwise, an influx of sick people at a clinic will simply suffer there rather than at home, where they can lie in bed, drink water and sip chicken soup.

“Right now, there’s definitely a waiting room full,” said Dr. Dubash at South Broward’s urgent-care clinic. “The beds are full. We’re not bringing people back because there are no beds available.”