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Contact: Lori Maldonado
Public Information Specialist
(303) 692-2028
For Immediate Release Tuesday, November 4, 2003 Flu Hits Colorado Early — Coloradans Reminded of Importance of
Receiving Flu Shots
DENVER—The early arrival of flu in Colorado this year makes it
particularly important for Coloradans to receive flu shots and to
get them now, state health officials said Tuesday. Dr. Ned Calonge, the state’s chief medical officer, based at the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said, “Flu
appears to have hit us early this year. We have already begun to see
areas with a lot of activity, such as in Larimer County, and have
reported 32 cases statewide to date. “Flu clinics have been set up throughout the state, and the vaccine
is in ample supply this year, so we encourage everyone to get
vaccinated now. It’s much easier to get a flu shot than to get the
flu.” He also encouraged holiday travelers to get vaccinated before they
leave on their trips. “Holiday travel and family visits, during
which there are many extra people in a home, can increase exposure
to the flu,” he said. Calonge said that flu season ranges from November to March and kills
an estimated 36,000 people each year in the U.S., most of whom are
the elderly and those with underlying chronic diseases, such as
heart and lung disease.
“Last year, the Department of Public Health and Environment
received reports that 2,681 Colorado residents were confirmed as
having had the flu. The best protection people have against the flu
and its severe complications is to get a yearly flu shot,” he said. Although it is important for any individual, who does not want to
get the flu, to receive a flu shot, Calonge said he most strongly
recommends flu shots for the following individuals:
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People over 50 years of age;
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Adults and children with a chronic disease, such as diabetes or
chronic disorders of the lungs and heart;
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Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
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Women who will be in the second and third trimester of pregnancy
during the flu season.
“To decrease the chances of getting the flu, individuals also should
remember to wash their hands frequently with soap and water and to
cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze,” Calonge said.
Typical flu symptoms include headache, fever, chills, cough, sore
throat, body aches and fatigue. “If you do get the flu, see your doctor and stay home from work or
school as the flu is very contagious,” said Calonge.
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