Health officials concerned by early flu season

Get the flu facts    

[DEC. 6, 2003]  It's the holidays and traditional music and celebrations are everywhere, but some songs aren't worth singing. Everybody knows this song, "Ahhhhhh-choo, sniff, cough cough." It is the most common tune of the season that we have just entered. Now, instead of socializing with the crowd, all you want to do is hit the sack and saw some z's, after downing aspirin and fluids.

Have you been thinking about getting that flu shot but it keeps slipping your mind, or you are just not sure it is worth the time to go get one? Flu season has gotten earlier and is reported to last nearly half the year now, with highest reported incidences occurring November through April.

Officials are observing that the season has not only begun earlier but there have been more cases than normal and it has caused a higher incidence of death.

You can learn more about who should be vaccinated, what flu strain is going around this year, the vaccine that is being offered, the current status of the spread and other related information from the following website. Updated information regarding 2003 influenza is now available at http://www.emergencyemail.org/cdc.

Vaccines are available at the Logan County Health Department.

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