This year's cold and flu season has been especially harsh, and national attention has been placed on dwindling vaccination supplies.

State and local organizations, however, are working overtime to treat the ill, and they are recommending preventive measures as the safest bet for a healthy winter.

To differentiate between a simple cold and the more severe flu, Deputy Press Secretary for the State Department of Health Kait Gillis said symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu.

People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

Children under the age of 5, adults over age 65, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions are most likely to suffer flu-related complications.

Gillis stressed the importance of getting a flu shot.

"The flu season has not peaked yet and there is still time to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu," Gillis said. "Additionally, Influenza A/H3N2, this year's dominant strain, is a more severe strain than we have seen in the last few years."

Gillis described the current flu season as robust and early, but no hospitals have asked the state Department of Health for aid.

Last season was notably mild, she said, with about 3,000 cases, but this year has already seen more than 11,000 confirmed flu cases statewide.

Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, is making use of an inflatable tent to treat flu patients a safe distance away from other emergency patients and help treat an influx of 80 to 100 additional flu patients daily, Infection Control and Prevention Director Terry Burger said.

St. Luke's Hospital Infection Diseases Chief Dr. Jeffrey Jahre said his hospital is making use of its mobile health van to provide additional care during peak hours. He also warned of the flu's infectious nature.

"Please be aware that adults with flu may be infectious a day or two before the onset of symptoms to about 24 hours after the fever has broken, which averages a week later," Jahre said.

Children typically recover faster because of their strong immune systems, but are infectious to others longer than adults.

St. Luke's is seeing patients in all its six emergency departments and two urgent care centers.

"Prevention is always better than treatment," Jahre said.