"This fall, most of us will suffer from nothing worse than hay fever. However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued several warnings recently about rising numbers of more serious illnesses. The bad news is that these serious ailments can cause death. The good news is that they’re all preventable.

When you or someone in your house gets a fever, cough, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you know it’s flu season. Flu season starts when kids go back to school, peaks in January and February, and continues as late as May.

Getting a seasonal flu shot is the best way to prevent a severe case of influenza. Pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for contracting a flu and are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as this year’s vaccine is available. The flu shot takes about two weeks to be fully effective, but lasts all season and is effective against common types of flu viruses, including H1N1."

Get the Story:
Walt Lamar: Rate of Flu Shots Among American Indians among lowest in U.S. (Indian Country Today 9/16)

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