Flu season has officially arrived in Oklahoma.

While there have been flu cases treated locally, the disease hasn’t reached epidemic proportions and there appears to be sufficient vaccine available to inoculate residents wanting to safeguard themselves against the virus.

Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Health announced that 203 Oklahoma patients had been hospitalized with the flu, bringing the total number of hospitalizations to 863 since Sept. 1.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue.

Health officials report 20 people have died from the virus since the flu season began on Sept. 1.

Official data indicates that one patient was younger than 5-years-old, while four were between the ages of 18 and 49-years-old. The other 15 patients were over the age of 50-years-old.

Health officials said the flu claimed the lives of 85 Oklahomans last flu season and led to more than 2,891 hospitalizations statewide. Last flu season was the longest flu season in a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Supt. Jason Sternberger of Kingfisher schools said Thursday that there were some absences from classes during the week buy nothing for principals to alert him about.

A survey of local vaccine dispensaries indicated that vaccine was available though one dispenser said the vaccine was being limited to those 65 and older.