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1st Flu Case in Maryland

November 5th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The first laboratory-confirmed case of seasonal influenza in Maryland has been diagnosed in an adult in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The individual was not hospitalized. The flu strain was type A (H1N1). This year's influenza vaccine formulation includes the A (H1N1) strain.

“The flu remains a highly contagious disease that seriously affects people each year,” said Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell. “There are steps Marylanders can take to protect themselves and their loved ones – chief among which is getting vaccinated.”

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious complications, hospitalization or even death. The virus that causes influenza spreads from person to person through coughing or sneezing, as well as through direct contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces or objects. Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, and usually begin one to four days after a person has been exposed to the virus.

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