Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States, including Minnesota, and some of the cases have involved severe illnesses.

This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Dakota County-specific data is not available on Flu Trends, but flu cases in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro are in line with the state as a whole.)

Overall in Minnesota, activity is categorized as "high," while it was categorized as "low" at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends.

And not only is the flu season starting earlier than usual, some of the illnesses in the upper Midwest are severe.

"We're seeing what we typically see in late December or early January," Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department's medical director, told The Des Moines Register. 

If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some places in the Burnsville that offer the vaccine:

• CVS/Pharmacy Store #5472
  12751 Nicollet Avenue
  952-736-8130
• Walgreens
  Various locations in Burnsville
• Target Pharmacy
  810 County Road 42 West
  (952) 435-8141

According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase not just in Minnesota but across the country. 

Five states – Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee – are reporting flu rates not normally seen until January, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The flu season normally peaks in January and February.

Holiday travel and more time spent indoors due to soggy weather will contribute to the spread of the flu virus, so now is the time to get vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information:

• Who should get vaccinated
• When to get vaccinated
• Selecting a flu vaccine
• Symptoms, complications and severity
• Treatment if you get the flu
• How flu spreads