A recent uptick in flu activity statewide has come to southeastern Connecticut, with local hospitals and Connecticut College in New London among places seeing the effects.

According to the state Department of Public Health, flu activity is now “widespread” and is on the increase, with 2,190 confirmed cases statewide as of Feb. 4. That number represents only those who have had a test confirming the flu virus.

About 780 people statewide have been hospitalized with flu as of Feb. 4, the health department said. Most of the patients had one of two strains of Type A flu, though some cases of Type B also have been reported. This year’s vaccine is considered a good match for preventing or lessening symptoms for all three of the predominant types this year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

At Conn College, 74 students recently have experienced flu-like symptoms, said Deborah MacDonnell, spokeswoman for the college. About 400 students have received free flu shots offered through the college’s Student Health Services, she said. There are about 1,665 students living on campus.

To help students while they are sick, students’ friends can pick up meals for them at dining halls, she added.

“We’ve sent out an email to campus with advice on prevention and self-care,” MacDonnell said. “Students have been encouraged not to attend classes until fever-free for 24 hours. We have encouraged students who live locally to go home while ill.”

She said no students experienced serious medical complications from the flu.

At Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, patients coming to the emergency department with the fevers and body aches that characterize the flu have been mainly the elderly and young children, said Rhonda Susman, director of infection control. Some have had to be admitted with dehydration, high fever and other symptoms, she said.

“It seems to have picked up in the last week,” she said. She was not able to provide specific numbers of cases.

In some cases, family members of those brought to the hospital with flu symptoms have been given prescriptions for Tamiflu, an antiviral medication for the treatment of early stages of the virus.

Susman said it is not too late to get the flu vaccine. It is not fully effective, however, for about two weeks.

At The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, 165 patients have tested positive for flu since Oct. 3, with most of the activity seen since mid-January, according to Dr. Robert Sidman, vice president of medical affairs for the east region of Hartford HealthCare, the network that includes Backus.

“We’re still seeing an increasing number of positive cases,” he said, adding that he doesn’t believe the outbreak has peaked yet.

According to the state public health department, about 10 percent of emergency room visits statewide were attributed to the flu for the week ending Feb. 4. About 7 percent of visits to doctors’ offices around the state were flu-related.

j.benson@theday.com