Health officials urge shots as influenza hits

By Melissa Burnor

This winter influenza has hit the area hard. Hundreds of cases have been reported locally. One confirmed death in Lenawee County and one unconfirmed death as well as two in Monroe County and at least a half a dozen in Lucas County, Ohio, has health officials repeating the call for residents to get a flu shot.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, at least six deaths were reported in the state of Michigan by Dec. 21. The MDCH said more than 90 percent of positive influenza specimens at the MDCH Bureau of Laboratories are the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

And like 2009, the influenza virus is severely hitting hitting young and middle-age adults.

For the complete story, please see the Jan. 22, 2014, edition of The Advance.