DOCTORS HOPING FOR LESS SEVERE 1998 FLU SEASON.Byline: David R. Baker Daily News Staff Writer After last year's miserable flu season
With the year's first flu vaccination clinics set to open over the next few weeks, health experts say they're prepared for the virus that surprised them last year, which even hit some people who had their shots. That influenza strain, called A-Sydney, has been incorporated into the vaccine being distributed throughout the country. And those who caught the bug last year should still be protected by antibodies they built up when fighting off the disease. ``It looks like the vaccine is going to be on target this year,'' said Loring Dales, an epidemiologist with the California Department of Health. ``So between that and the fact that a lot of people had A-Sydney last year, we should have a lot of immune people.'' The vaccine will be available for $10 at some Sav-on drugstores in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. next weekend. Starting Oct. 13, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County's health department will begin offering free shots to seniors and people with compromised immune systems. Vaccination remains the best defense against catching influenza, although researchers Friday unveiled two new experimental drugs that appear to cut the length and severity of a typical bout of the flu. Those treatments - one a pill, the other a nasal spray Nasal sprays are used for the nasal delivery of a drug or drugs, generally to alleviate cold or allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion. Although delivery methods vary, most nasal sprays function by instilling a fine mist into the nostril by action of a hand-operated pump - still have not received federal approval and won't be ready for this flu season. Predicting the severity of a flu season is much like issuing a long-range weather forecast - difficult and fraught with unpleasant surprises. Last year, A-Sydney stormed a population ill-prepared for it, accounting for about 40 percent of flu cases nationwide. Los Angeles experienced its worst flu season in 15 years, some experts said. For a brief period after Christmas, some local hospitals were so swamped with flu patients that they diverted ambulances to less-crowded facilities. The illness was listed as a contributing cause of death on 798 death certificates in Los Angeles County during last December, compared with 667 deaths the previous December. This year, most signs point to a relatively mild flu season, Dales said. Countries in the southern hemisphere, now leaving winter behind, showed no sign of new strains that could wreak global havoc. But that doesn't mean doctors couldn't be surprised again. ``Even in the absence of these things "These Things" is an EP by She Wants Revenge, released in 2005 by Perfect Kiss, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. Music Video The music video stars Shirley Manson, lead singer of the band Garbage. Track Listing 1. "These Things [Radio Edit]" - 3:17 2. , lightning strikes and boom - we get a big flu year,'' Dales said. WHERE TO GET FLU SHOTS Flu shots will be available for $10 per shot at these and other Sav-on drugstores. Call the numbers listed for times. All proceeds will benefit the Visiting Nurse vis·it·ing nurse n. A registered nurse employed by a public health agency or hospital to promote community health and especially to visit and administer treatment to sick people in their homes. Association, whose members will administer the shots. Agoura Hills 5623 Kanan Road, Oct. 5, (818) 991-5522 Granada Hills 10208 Balboa Blvd., Oct. 2, (818) 368-5635 Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, 24640 Orchard Village Road, Oct. 6, (805) 222-7740 Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. 2825 E. Cochran St., Oct. 10, (805) 522-6904 Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. 1382 Moorpark Road, Oct. 2-5, (805) 495-4613 Woodland Hills 23357 Mulholland Drive For the motion picture, see . Mulholland Drive is a very well-known road in Los Angeles, California named after engineer William Mulholland. A portion of it is also called Mulholland Highway. , Oct. 3, (818) 223-8222 22050 Ventura Blvd., Oct. 4, (818) 346-2207 CAPTION(S): Box BOX: WHERE TO GET FLU SHOTS (see text) |
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