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February 24, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Flu Season Moderate, But Not Over Yet, Says CDC"

Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com) (02/21/03); Ault, Alice

The flu season is far from being over this winter, as doctor's visits for flu-like symptoms are on the rise and flu outbreaks are increasing.  Nancy Cox, director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Influenza Branch, says there is no way to predict how the flu season will progress and as children are not routinely vaccinated against flu, they are the most dramatically affected by the virus.  Outbreaks of the flu have forced schools in Texas and Missouri to close.  Type B flu virus, which causes milder symptoms than Type A, is the primary culprit this year.

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