FLU SEASON LESS HARSH THIS YEAR

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 29, 1993                   TAG: 9301290010
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ATLANTA                                LENGTH: Medium
FLU SEASON LESS HARSH THIS YEAR
It has been a mild flu year, but don't tell that to the people in 29 states who have endured the sneezing, coughing and aching.
And if you're not one of them, don't put away the tissues just yet, federal health officials said Thursday. The influenza strain circulating this winter tends to stick around, sometimes into March.
"This year's flu hasn't been too disruptive," said Dr. Larry Schonberger of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It's too early to tell yet whether this thing is going to peter out or build up."
Last winter, the United States experienced a flu epidemic that began in October 1991, two months before flu season usually peaks. Most patients were hit by Type A, the worst strain.
This year, the first outbreak wasn't reported until December, and most Americans are getting Type B flu, the mildest strain.
That doesn't mean it hasn't caused problems. Among the 29 states hit, widespread outbreaks have struck New Mexico, New York and Washington and smaller outbreaks have hit Alaska, Arkansas, California, Missouri and Texas. No outbreaks of Type A or B flu have been reported in Virginia.
Schools have reported outbreaks in Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri and Washington. Washington also had the first outbreak in a nursing home, where 19 of the 97 residents caught flu or flu-like illnesses and two, who were already in poor health, died.
"Type B flu tends to build up in the nation much more gradually than Type A, which can hit us over the head with a big bang," Schonberger said.
Flu, mostly Type A, generally kills about 10,000 Americans each year. With Type B predominant this year, flu deaths have remained well below the rate expected, Schonberger said, though no exact figures were available.
But Type B lasts longer, into February and sometimes March, when flu season normally is considered over. The CDC expects to see outbreaks in more states this winter, but doesn't expect serious problems, Schonberger said.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB