Pharmacies stock up with Tamiflu as peak of flu season approaches

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The peak of the flu season has not yet happened, which is why doctors said to continue to be careful touching surfaces in public.

They reiterate to people to continuously wash hands.

[RELATED: 4 new flu deaths reported by North Carolina health officials]

North Carolina health officials reported the largest week-to-week increase in patients reporting flu-like symptoms so far this season, which is a total of 905 people, and that number is rising.

In Charlotte, Atrium Health didn't share percentages of flu symptoms, but said it isn't placing restrictions on visitors to prevent the spread of flu just yet.

Pharmacists like Jesse Pike said they are preparing for more cases.

"Up until just the last few days, we've not seen a lot of activity," Pike, with Pike’s Pharmacy, said.

Pike said his business is stocked up on Tamiflu.

"So that when they are prescribed and they will be prescribed in bunches; that we have the medication on the shelf," Pike said.

Last year, the flu season in North Carolina peaked in the second week of February, but it didn’t peak until it was almost March the season before.

It might be too late to get the flu shot now.

There are no serious concerns like a big shortage of supplies of Tamiflu.

Cox Media Group