Howard County 2013 Flu Coverage

See a round-up of what Patch has been writing about the flu during the 2013 season.

Report: Flu Numbers Dropping in Maryland

Doctors are still urging residents to get a flu shot.

The number of flu cases in Maryland have dropped over the last week, but health officials are still pushing residents to get the flu vaccine, according to a report in The Gazette. The week ending Dec. 29, 10.1 prcent of people visiting doctors were for the flu and the week ending Jan. 5 only 3.5 percent of people visiting doctors were there for the flu, according to a report from the state. Maryland’s flu season might have peaked, but the number of cases remains widespread statewide and health officials are still urging people to be vaccinated, a state epidemiologist said Monday. The numbers are still higher than the past two flu seasons, according to the Gazette report. The following flu clinics will be available in Howard County this …

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Sandra Conway

1:51 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Id rather ingest vitamins & naturally healthy foods than a bunch of toxic chemicals. No flu in this household..... Ever.   more ›

With Flu Season in Swing, Clinics Available Later This Week

Howard County Health Department is offering free flu clinics for all members of the public on Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.

  If you're worried about catching the flu that has been making its way across Maryland over the past two weeks, then maybe it's time to get that flu shot. "We continue to have a limited supply of vaccine that we are offering to the public and will continue to do so until we have no more," said Dr. Maura J. Rossman, Howard County's Health Officer. "We are not overwhelmed in Howard County, compared to how we hear New York state and Massachusetts is, and that's a very good thing." "We encourage all Howard County residents to get immunized," said Rossman, "that's the most effective way of preventing flu." Rossman said the typical flu season tends to peak in January or February then goes away. "There's about a six week period of flu," said …

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Google: Flu Cases Still Soaring In Maryland

Google Flu Trends "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," its website stated.

Flu cases appear to be rising still in Maryland, according to Google Flu Trends, which "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," the Google Flu Trends website stated. Google Flu Trends data indicates that the number of flu cases in Maryland started rising in mid-November. As of Jan. 11, the flu has reached the "intense" category in Maryland, whereas at this time last year, the number of flu cases was only in the "moderate" range. Best places to escape the flu, according to Google Flu Trends: South America, South Africa and Australia. (Perhaps flu viruses don't like long flights?) Or, better yet, consider getting a flu shot. Find a flu shot location near you with this Flu …

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Flu Season May Have Peaked, But Virus Still a Risk

Last year it was late. This year it's early. But the flu is a given every year. What you need to know.

It seems as if everyone knows someone who’s had the flu already this year. And it’s no surprise. According to Google Flu Trends, which is accurate when compared to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention data, the Internet company says, most of the country is seeing “intense” flu activity right now. But there may be a bit of good news when it comes to the flu. “It looks like we’ve hit our peak already,” Mark Landrum, an infection control physician at Howard County General Hospital said. Although according to CDC data, most of the country is still seeing widespread flu activity, he said, “It looks like most places … are starting to see some decrease in cases.” Flu season varies, Landrum said, between mid-November and March. Last year, …

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number9dream

1:03 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

What about all the flu shots that were supposed to save the world? Oh, that's right. The shots were for the wrong strain of the flu. The strain that people are getting is different. I haven't gotten a flu shot in years and haven't had the flu in years. Correlation? Flu shots are simply another way to separate suckers from their money, like casinos, Starbucks and Ray Lewis jerseys. Welcome to …   more ›

Where Can I Get a Flu Shot in Howard County?

Flu season hits early and hard in the United States, says CDC.

  According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) FluView flu activity tracker, the influenza virus has “increased substantially” in the south central and Southeast regions of the country, and has come the earliest since the 2003-2004: While influenza vaccines have been around since 1945, the type that contains a live virus have only been used since 2003, and many people still wonder if they should get a flu vaccine shot. Today, there are two basic types of flu vaccines – traditional needle injection and a nasal spray. Who should get a flu shot? The CDC believes that all persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated on a yearly basis, but especially urges the shot for children under 5 …

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number9dream

2:59 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012

Flu shots, vitamin supplements and herbal remedies are all a hoax.   more ›