ATLANTA,
Georgia (AP) -- Flu outbreaks are already going strong in
parts of the country, months before the season typically peaks,
and this year's vaccine does not exactly match the strain
doctors are seeing so far, the government warned Monday.
"This is very serious," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She warned
that flu season could be worse than usual.
Gerberding begged people to get an early flu shot to avoid
a potentially staggering flu season nationwide.
The shot is recommended for adults over 50, children between
6 months and 2 years, people with chronic medical conditions
and people who work in health care. The vaccine is readily
available this year, Gerberding said.
The outbreaks so far were strongest in Texas and Colorado
in October and early November. Most of the country has had
only sporadic flu infections so far this season.
But doctors are worried this year's flu season could be brutal.
Not only were the outbreaks early in Texas and Colorado, they
involved a strain of influenza not targeted by the vaccine.
Gerberding said the vaccine should still protect most people,
because the strains are very similar. The changing flu strain
is called a "drift."
"In the past this has happened. It's a very common thing,"
she said. "Whatever the drift is, the vaccine will still provide
some cross-protection, so we're optimistic that will be the
case this year, but of course we'll be watching it very carefully."
ATLANTA,
Georgia (AP) -- Flu outbreaks are already going strong in
parts of the country, months before the season typically peaks,
and this year's vaccine does not exactly match the strain
doctors are seeing so far, the government warned Monday. 
