Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, December 11, 2009
(UNDATED) - The Indiana State Department of Health says the current H1N1 flu pandemic mirrors a flu pandemic in 1957 and 1958.
State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe hopes the similarities will provide some insight in how to prevent and react to the illness.
She says after Indiana had a fall wave of flu matching the current situation, a large number of deaths occurred in January and February.
About 60,000 Americans died during that pandemic.
About 36,000 people in the U.S. died from complications from the seasonal flu each year.
Monroe is encouraging Hoosiers to get the H1N1 vaccine in December to prevent deaths in 2010.
The ISDH is planning to provide pharmacies with the vaccine, but has yet to ship doses to them.
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