1/18/14 - Public health officials say influenza is still causing severe illness throughout Livingston County and continue to stress the importance of getting vaccinated. The Livingston County Department of Public Health says it continues to see a spike in lab-confirmed cases - many requiring hospitalization. Estimated flu activity in Michigan has been upgraded from âregionalâ to the highest level of âwidespreadâ activity to reflect the increase in cases. The majority continue to be H1N1 influenza, which was the deadly strain behind the 2009 pandemic. The local health department is strongly encouraging everyone over the age of six months to seek the seasonal flu vaccine if they havenât already, noting that itâs readily available throughout the County. As of Friday, there were 105 lab-confirmed cases this flu season in Livingston County - all of which tested positive for influenza A, including H1N1. Individuals range in age from 1 to 88 years old, with an average age of 42. The 27 cases that required hospitalization ranged in age from 23 to 88, with an average age of 60. Additional information about the increase in local cases, the flu vaccine and prevention recommendations can be found in the press release below. (JM)
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