KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON -- Influenza is a serious infection that causes an average of 20,000 excess deaths as well as many preventable hospitalizations each year in the U.S. Public Health - Seattle & King County recommends that people at high risk for complications from influenza obtain a flu shot. High risk people include:

those over 65 years,those with chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart or lung disease,pregnant women who will be at least 14 weeks pregnant during flu season, andchildren six months to 18 years of age taking long-term aspirin therapy.

"Everyone at high risk for serious complications from the flu should get vaccinated," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Those living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities are especially susceptible to the flu and serious complications from it, including death. Family members (including children) and caregivers in contact with high risk persons should get a flu shot to prevent infecting others.

In addition, health care workers including doctors, nurses and other health professionals and staff members of long term care facilities (especially nursing homes) should be immunized to prevent transmitting infection to others at high-risk of complications.

Anyone (older than age six months) who wants to reduce their risk of influenza and its complications (including missed work or school and associated costs) should consider being vaccinated.

A culture confirmed case of influenza A occurred in a King County resident in mid-September. This is the earliest culture confirmed case of influenza A detected through our sentinel providers influenza surveillance system since 1988. Although the early appearance of influenza A in King County should serve as a reminder to begin annual influenza vaccination activities, sporadic cases of influenza can occur year round and do not necessarily indicate an earlier flu season.

WHERE CAN YOU GET IMMUNIZED?

Flu shots are available at your nearest Public Health Center and at most other health care providers and clinics. Flu shots will also be available at many walk-in locations throughout the Puget Sound area, such as pharmacies and grocery stores.

Medicare Part B coverage will pay for a flu shot; however, persons with Medicare coverage and who belong to a managed care plan or HMO, should get the flu shot from their regular primary health care provider.

WHAT IS INFLUENZA?

Influenza ("flu") is a severe, contagious viral respiratory disease that causes fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, sore throat, runny nose and cough. The cough may last for several weeks. influenza spreads rapidly to others through sneezing, coughing, or direct contact with the infected individual or contaminated objects. Although many people refer to a bad cold as "the flu," or to an illness with nausea and vomiting as the "stomach flu ", these illnesses are not really influenza.

For healthy children and adults, influenza is typically a moderate to severe illness. Major symptoms usually are better within a week. Severe complications may occur in people who are elderly, frail or have chronic health problems such as diabetes, asthma, heart or lung problems, occasionally resulting in death. Pregnant women who get the flu during their second or third trimester of pregnancy also have an increased risk of complications.

WHAT'S IN THE VACCINE?

The vaccine contains only killed virus, so it cannot cause influenza. This year's flu vaccine includes protection against A/Sydney, A/Beijing and B/Yamanashi viral strains. It prevents influenza in most healthy children and adults, but its most important job is to protect people from severe disease and serious complications, like pneumonia, that can lead to hospitalization.

It takes 2-4 weeks to develop immunity to the flu after receiving the vaccine. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that flu shots be given from October through November to provide the best protection throughout the typical influenza season, which in our area is usually December through March.

For more information on influenza disease and flu vaccine, and sites where flu vaccine is offered, call:

The American Lung Association of Washington Flu Hotline at (206) 441-5100 or (800) LUNGUSA if outside the Seattle; or, Public Health - Seattle & King County's Information Hotline (206) 296-4949.