Flu bug officially arrives in Missoula County

Flu bug officially arrives in Missoula County
By MICHAEL MOORE of the Missoulian

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Missoula County officially has the flu.
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Although there have been a few “quick test” positives, only one has been confirmed by the Montana State Public Health Lab.
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The Missoula County case is now one of seven statewide, and most appear to be the same strain of flu.

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Health officials said testing for flu has increased dramatically over the past few weeks, as more and more people come down with flu-like symptoms.

% q1 ~: \1 s! g: P- @The flu kills about 36,000 Americans each year and is responsible for more than 200,000 hospitalizations.
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January and February are historically peak times for flu in Montana and the nation.
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$ W: z& h. i( y2 G8 ?! _, HThat said, there's still time to get a flu shot.
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: q2 `6 Z/ |9 {“It's not too late to get a flu shot and protect yourself,” said Vicki Barnard, outpatient supervisor at the Missoula City-County Health Department. “The flu season is just beginning.”

6 g. c; l/ ?4 F/ f- d9 `; iUnlike some other years, there's plenty of flu vaccine this year, and vaccination remains the best way to stay flu-free.

Vaccination is especially recommended for children aged 6 months to 18 years, people over age 50, health care works and residents of chronic-care facilities.

Even if you get a flu shot, you body will take about two weeks to develop antibodies to the flu.

6 U: u: v9 D! I! H1 M& U“Influenza typically peaks in January or February in Montana, so people should continue to get vaccinated through the first few months of the year,” Barnard said.

The city-county health department offers walk-in flu shots from Monday through Friday, from 9-11:30 a.m., and 1-4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, shots begin at 10 a.m.

4 n" B, D+ w7 B2 C6 X5 @The cost is $20 for adults and $14 on a sliding fee for children 6 months through 18 years. http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/01/06/news/mtregional/news14.txt

If the flu virus gets mutated,how can vaccination do?