Many areas of Illinois are experiencing one of the worst flu seasons in years, so it is important for people to take precautions to help prevent themselves and others from contracting the nasty bug.

Illinois is one of 41 states with higher-than-normal levels of flu activity, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illinois hasn’t seen such widespread influenza this early in the season since 2003. During a one-week period in late December, the state recorded 31 flu-related admissions to hospital intensive care units. Three of those resulted in deaths.

Since then, the situation has not improved. As of Tuesday, almost 150 Illinoisans had been admitted to hospital intensive care units with the flu. The death toll had risen to six, according to Melaney Arnold, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.