North Dakotans continue to battle the flu early this year. The latest numbers out late Tuesday show that just under 3000 confirmed cases have been reported to the State Department of Health most are believed to be H1N1. This rush of sickness has led to some busy days for health
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clinics across the region most just wish they could be a bit busier, but without vaccine, that isn't possible. Perry Olson has more... "Upper Missouri District Health Unit may I help you?" (Kara Todd-Iwen - Upper Missouri District Health Unit) "Our phone never stops ringing." So goes the 2009 flu season. A season that has been full of coughs, shivers questions and clinics and maybe confusion and frustration too! (Kara Todd-Iwen - Upper Missouri District Health Unit) "Scheduling clinics has been hit and miss. It all is dependent upon vaccine." And that vaccine has been hard to plan for. Delivery of it has been extremely slow. Once the State Department of Health receives a shipment from a supplier it gets distributed to health units but with neither group ever sure when or how much will arrive, planning mass vaccination days has been tricky. (Kara Todd-Iwen - Upper Missouri District Health Unit) "We were aware that vaccine would start coming this fall however it has been limited in supply so the public is frustrated and it is difficult for us to gage when to have clinics and how many we will be able to serve who show up to the clinics." For Kara a veteran in the public health arena this flu season has been like no other she has seen...and it hasn't just been H1N1. Seasonal flu vaccinations have been spotty... (Kara Todd-Iwen - Upper Missouri District Health Unit) "There has been a delay regionally in seasonal flu so we have not performed as many seasonal flu vaccine clinics as we usually would." This lack of vaccine on both fronts means staying healthy is vital and if you...or your child can get vaccinated, health officials say make sure you do. Perry Olson, KX News.
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