New Years Hits, Flu Epidemic Hits Harder ~by Legal Pub

 This years flu shot apparently doesn't work well. The Center 
for Disease Control and Prevention has now officially declared an epidemic  
in its FluView report.   Specifically, 22 states (Midwest and Southeast ) have high levels of influenza activity.15 children have died from the flu so far this season.  The mortality rate for flu related deaths may be as high as 6.8 percent of those infected. Thus, epidemic levels 
have been reached peaking concern with the H3N2 virus.  The virus has apparently mutated making vaccines less effective. "What they're finding is in the predominant virus - at least, early on - it has drifted or become different from what they had predicted," according to Lenny Bernstein.  The Washington Post.  Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa of NYU told Fox, "By the time they knew that it had mutated to this extent, it was really too late to change the vaccine...They figured this out around March. That's too late for a vaccine that really comes out in October." Fox News. 

Nevertheless, if you have not been vaccinated yet get vaccinated as some resistance is better than none. The Washington Post   However, more importantly, spare that New Years kiss with anyone who might be effective.  Not only may that prevent chapped lips, it may also prevent a nasty experience for the start of the new year.