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December 9, 2003Stronger strain of flu hits earlierBenzie-Leelanau out of adult flu shotsByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Family members visiting residents in one Benzie County nursing home are being told to call first - up to 40 percent of the home's residents have influenza. Keith Miller, administrator at The Maples Benzie County Medical Care Facility, said 35 to 40 percent of the 59 residents have the flu. He said 99 percent of the residents received a flu vaccine but are more susceptible to the virus because of their frail health. "We aren't quarantined, we are advising resident family members to call and find out how they are," Miller said. "It's not really epidemic right now, it's just basically the beginning of the flu." Area health officials said this year's flu, which alarmed some after several children in Colorado died from the virus, began earlier and is a stronger strain than most years. Dr. David Martin, an infectious disease doctor at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, said the emergency room reported about 15 cases of the Fujian flu strain daily over the weekend. "It is a little bit different genetically - such that the vaccine isn't going to be quite as effective as it has been in previous years," Martin said. Most of the patients at Munson have been middle ages, elderly or very young, Martin said. A few have been hospitalized but none are in critical condition. Martin saw the first cases in mid-November, which is unusual for a bug that doctors here don't normally see until January. The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department has only one confirmed case of the flu, the nursing director said. "It's been a long time since there has been a worldwide pandemic (of the flu), but it is bound to happen sooner or later," Jenifer Murray said. The health department has gone through all 1,500 of its adult flu vaccines. There are about 100 of the 300 children's vaccines still available. Children ages 6-months to 2 years old should receive a flu shot, as well as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, doctors said. Kit Mikovitz, personal health manager at the Grand Traverse Health Department, said the department has six confirmed cases of the flu, but plenty of adult flu shots are still available. Doctors say the flu is here, and here to stay - at least until March or April.
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