AUGUSTA — The flu season has arrived in Maine.

The state Health Department says the first positive Influenza A case was detected by Mid Coast Hospital late last week. It was an adult from Sagadahoc County who wasn’t vaccinated and didn’t require hospitalization.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect against influenza. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine annually.

Dr. Siiri Bennett, state epidemiologist, says the flu vaccine is widely available. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for immune protection to start.

Signs of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.