Ardmore, Okla. -- Flu season is just around the corner, but officials in Oklahoma are already seeing cases pop up in Carter County. Local business leaders met Tuesday to talk about the possibility of a massive flu outbreak in the area and how that would affect the local economy.

There hasn't been a massive pandemic in the United States since 1918, but the odds of one happening here are better than you might think.

"Tradition and history says that it probably will happen. We just don't know the severity," Sharon Ford at the Carter County Health Department says.

That has Carter County officials warning local business owners to prepare for a possible massive flu outbreak in the future or a virus that doesn't yet have a vaccine.

"This could last for several weeks and in order to prevent the spread of disease, some small businesses may be asked to discontinue their business," Ms. Ford says.

If an outbreak occurred, it is possible that nearly half of all workers in Carter County would have to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus.

Ford says business owners should have a backup plan.

"If the primary person in charge is sick then 'who is going to continue to be the person in charge, and also how could we function with 40% or more of our employees being sick?'"

Neill Courtney at the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce agrees that Ardmore should be prepared for such an event ― just in case.

"If they're prepared for something like that, it minimizes the impact on the local economy," Mr. Courtney says.

If that many people are unable to work, there would be negative effects to the local economy.

"Small businesses in this community make up a significant portion of our local economy. They're very important to our local economic prosperity," Mr. Courtney says.

Anna Burleson is a family practitioner and a small business owner. She says if most of her staff was sick, she would pick up the slack herself, and if she is sick, she already has a backup plan.

"I have wonderful doctors that are on call for me, and really just a great medical community, so you have support from others," Dr. Burleson says.

Health officials say the best way to prevent spreading the flu virus is to wash your hands regularly and to get a flu shot.