Continued H1N1 shots being urged
By From staff reports
Published in News on April 4, 2010 1:50 AM
RALEIGH -- The Centers for Disease Control has put a renewed focus on H1N1 activity in southeastern states after Georgia public health officials reported a dramatic increase in hospitalizations due to complications from flu.
While North Carolina has not experienced a similar increase, state health officials say the virus is still circulating and considered a threat, especially to those with chronic illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and diabetes.
Federal officials say as the end of traditional flu season nears, the concern is not as much over a widespread outbreak of disease as on the threat to high-risk individuals.
Flu vaccine is available at no charge to the patient at any county health department. For information on H1N1 vaccine availability as well as the latest statistics on flu incidence rates, visit flu.nc.gov.