Flu

OGDEN — A Weber County resident has tested positive for an unusual strain of swine flu that has hospitalized three people in the U.S. and is not included in this year’s vaccination.

The virus has been identified in isolated cases across the nation, including in West Virginia, Maine, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Indiana. The Weber County resident was not hospitalized and is recovering at home.

The virus, A/H3N2v, was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Utah Department of Health. The strain is genetically similar to those which circulate in pigs, said Weber-Morgan Health Department Director Gary House.

Influenza has picked up over the last week across the state, but health officials say it's still not too late to get vaccinated.

According to Weber-Morgan Health Department, the state saw an increase in the number of influenza type A cases beginning the first week of March. In Weber County, 69 percent of those cases have been H1N1, which is covered by this year's vaccine.

"We're not seeing huge numbers, but last month the activity was considered minimal, and this past week we've hit the low to moderate level," said Claudia Price, Weber-Morgan Health Department director of nursing.

Wash your hands often and get an annual flu vaccine -- those are the best ways to avoid getting sick, yes, but not the only ways.

"There's an entire arsenal of tools and actions you can use to fight off this virus," says Dr. William Berg, director of the public health department in Hampton, Va.

Such as:

* Stop touching your eyes, nose and mouth. You're not just at risk if somebody coughs or sneezes near you. Viruses can live on many surfaces, and you can easily infect yourself by touching one and then a mucus membrane.

People increasingly are getting flu shots at retailers rather than from their doctors or at public vaccine clinics.

OGDEN -- Flu shots will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, 705 23rd St.

In addition, adults without insurance will be given free immunizations.

The Community Nursing Services clinic is provided through a grant from the Ralph Nye Foundation and the Utah Medical Association.

WASHINGTON -- With at least 170 million doses of flu vaccine headed to clinics and pharmacies, including two options for the squeamish and a new super shot for the elderly, public health officials are hoping they'll be able to immunize more than half of all Americans this season.

BRIGHAM CITY -- Flu shots and flu mist are now available at the Bear River Health Department. Clinics will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Logan and Brigham City offices.