Thursday, 4:30 PM
Flu season arrives on time in Massachusetts
By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff
The annual influenza season has arrived right on time in Massachusetts with its calling card of fever and chills, state health authorities announced today. So far, 28 cases of the viral illness have been reported in recent weeks, although no serious complications from the disease have been reported.
The infected patients are scattered across the state, and no clusters of flu have been detected, said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, the state's director of communicable disease control. "This is just an indication that the season has started," DeMaria said. "We're talking several weeks before there's a peak."
Most years, flu season in Massachusetts does not peak until January or even February. Authorities from the state Department of Public Health continue to encourage residents to get a flu shot. They estimate that a record 1.8 million doses of vaccine -- 680,000 purchased by the state alone -- have already arrived in Massachusetts, with more on the way.
About 1.5 million Bay Staters are believed to be at highest risk of lethal complications from the flu, including adults 65 and older, children between the ages of 6 months and 23 months, and patients with serious diseases, including cancer and AIDS. Federal disease authorities estimate that an average of 36,000 Americans die annually from complications attributed to the flu, principally the elderly.
Specialists also recommend that people in the following groups seek out the vaccine, even though they're not at greatest risk: adults ages 50 to 64, children from 2 to 5 years old, healthcare workers, and people who live with those in greatest danger.
The vaccine appears to provide a strong shield of protection against the strain most widely circulating this season, DeMaria said. Because a flu vaccine can provide full protection in as little as two weeks, disease specialists said there's still plenty of time to get a shot before the season is most intense.
"People can get distracted by the holidays, so we want to remind people about the importance of getting a flu shot," DeMaria said.
For more information on where flu shots are available, go to flu.masspro.org. The Department of Public Health has more information about vaccinations at mass.gov/dph/cdc/epii/flu/flupublic.htm.
