1st Confirmed Case Of Flu In Maryland Reported

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is urging people get the flu shot after reporting the first confirmed case of seasonal influenza in the state.

"The flu remains a highly contagious disease that seriously affects people each year," said Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell. "There are steps Marylanders can take to protect themselves and their loved ones – chief among which is getting vaccinated."

The strain confirmed was type A or H1N1.

The flu can cause serious complications, hospitalizations and even death.

The virus is contagious and spreads person-to-person through coughing and sneezing and with direct contact with contaminated surfaces and objects.

"Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, and usually begin one to four days after a person has been exposed to the virus," the MDHMH reports.

Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and is especially important for people at high risk for flu-related complications and severe disease, including:

• Children 6 months to 18 years old;
• People 50 and older;
• Pregnant women;
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions;
• People undergoing therapy, or with a condition that may weaken their immune systems,
• People caring for someone in these groups also should be vaccinated to avoid spreading the disease to them. These people include healthcare workers, household contacts of individuals at risk for complications from the flu, and daycare or school workers.

For more information about the seriousness of influenza and the benefits of vaccination, visit http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/influenza/SitePages/Home.aspx or http://www.cdc.gov/flu/  or http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/index.htm or call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO.