Maryland reports 1st flu case, vaccinations urged

BALTIMORE - Maryland is reporting its first flu case of the season and health officials are urging nearly everyone over six months old to get vaccinated.

State health officials say the first case has been determined to be the swine flu strain involved in last year's pandemic. They say this year's vaccine protects against that strain as well as two others expected to be most prevalent this flu season.

Health Department spokesman David Paulson said Thursday that the first case involves an adult from the Baltimore area who was hospitalized, but is recovering.

State health officials say the vaccine is in good supply and they are urging nearly everyone over six months old to get flu shots. Paulson says vaccination had not been recommended in the past for healthy adults, but last year's pandemic affected that group.

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