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Flu Season

Monday, January 14, 2013

Flu Epidemic Prompts Change to Hospital Visitor Policy

Still, while the numbers are great, this season's epidemic does not match level of brutal 2009 flu pandemic, doctor says.

If you have not fallen prey this year to the flu or something close to it, consider yourself lucky. For many, 2012-13 has not been kind when it comes to influenza. For some, it has been downright deadly. Deaths caused by the flu in 2013 reached epidemic levels late last week, according to a report in the New York Times, but the government-run Center for Disease Control (CDC) said it may have peaked. Dr. Joel Maslow, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases for Atlantic Health, however, said the answer is not quite so cut-and-dried. "The answer is 'yes' and 'no,'" he said. "If you look at the CDC website the number of reported cases seems to have peaked. [A] report also showed a decrease [around Christmas,] and then went back up." Some …

Chris Jansen

9:47 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

does the vaccine contain mercury?   more ›

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

'Tis the Season: Where to Get Flu Shots in the Morristown Area

Here's where to get an influenza vaccine, how to recognize symptoms and what to know about treatment if you get sick.

Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States: This time last year, flu cases were lower in the Morristown area than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Morristown area-specific data is not available on Flu Trends.) Overall in New Jersey, activity is considered high now, while it was considered low at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. Still, take comfort in knowing this still is not the worst recent year—that honor goes to 2009-10, when flu activity was rated "intense," according to Flu Trends. If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some places in the Morristown area that offer the vaccine (besides your own doctor, of course): Rite-Aid, South Street, Morristown Walgreen's, South Street…

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