More cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus are being reported in our area.
The latest numbers are out.
Mobile County now has 81 confirmed cases.
The list from the Alabama Department of Public Health said Baldwin County has 29.
Swine flu is on the minds of a lot of people, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're ready to take precautions against it.
David Mann, the Public Information Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, said we may be hearing a lot about H1N1, but, "people should not panic. An extreme amount of planning and preparation is being undertaken right now to address this situation."
For one thing, state officials are working on a vaccine that should be ready by late September or early October.
It would require two shots.
Mann said, "Those shots will be taken, one shot, then approximately 21 days later, the second shot."
Plus, state health officials said you also need to be immunized against the normal, seasonal flu later this month.
So, that could be three shots over three months.
Are they worth it, or are they too big a hassle?
When asked if he would get the H1N1 vaccine, Steve Whiteside said, "Most definitely. I want to stay healthy."
But Mikey Moresi said, "Probably not, probably not. I wouldn't waste my time. I think we're pretty safe as a whole."
Barbara Mai said she would get it.
She said, "I get a flu shot normally anyway."
But Felicia Richardson said she wouldn't because, "The one time I got a flu shot, I got the flu."
Emily Woodall goes to Baker High School.
When asked if she had heard of a lot of people at the school having the flu, she said, "I've heard of a couple, not a lot, though so, hopefully, it stays away from us."
And Sheetal Kandola of Mobile said we may be lucky here in the Port City.
Kandola said, "In New York, I was there earlier. Its pretty big there. My little cousin's school got shut down."
Advertisement