SACRAMENTO (October 3, 2006) – With the flu season fast approaching, State Public Health Officer

Dr. Mark Horton today urged all Californians over 50 and individuals in high-risk groups to get a flu shot soon in order to prevent sickness, hospitalization and complications of the flu.  The California Department Health Services (CDHS), through California's local health departments, is distributing 697,480 doses of influenza vaccine at low or no cost. 

"I encourage all individuals at higher risk of complications to contact their health care provider and inquire about getting a flu shot soon," Horton said.  "Since the supply of flu vaccine appears to be adequate this year, healthy individuals should also receive the vaccine, which helps to protect the most vulnerable populations who have direct contact with them."

Influenza, also called the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a virus.  The flu begins with an abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, sore throat and cough that often make people sick enough to keep them in bed for several days.  Infants, seniors and individuals with chronic medical conditions are more likely than others to become seriously ill if infected by the influenza virus. 

 Every year, more than 225,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and more than 35,000 die due to influenza and its complications.  This winter's anticipated flu strains are A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1)-like, A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens.

 "Because the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expecting more vaccine to be available this flu season than in previous years, we are recommending that more healthy adults and children be immunized as well as individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease."

 CDC and CDHS recommend that the following groups get vaccinated:

• Adults aged 50 and older.
• All women who will be pregnant during influenza season.
• Children 6 months to 5 years of age.
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• Healthcare workers with direct patient care.
• Individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions.
• Individuals who live with or care for an adult over 50, a child under 5 or anyone with a chronic medical condition.

Healthy individuals aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant and do not have chronic medical conditions can also receive FluMist^®, the nasal spray flu vaccine.

To stop the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, Horton encouraged Californians to take the following basic steps:

• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.

Horton also recommended that parents and caregivers should use acetaminophen instead of aspirin to treat flu and cold symptoms or chickenpox in children and teenagers. Aspirin contains ingredients that have been linked to a rare disease known as Reye's syndrome. This disease can lead to coma, brain damage and even death in children and teenagers suffering from the flu, flu-like illnesses or chickenpox.

For information about low- and no-cost flu vaccines, consumers should contact their local health departments.  For more information about flu, visit CDHS' Web site at www.dhs.ca.gov.

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