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H1N1 Pandemic Over, Area Health Officials Prepare for Upcoming Flu Season

By Kansas Public Radio

Topkea, KS – The World Health Organization recently declared the H1N1 Swine Flu epidemic to be over, but local health officials say the H1N1 virus will remain a major concern this upcoming flu season.

Misty Kruger is with the Shawnee County Health Agency.

"Based on past pandemics, what they expect to happen is that the H1N1 virus will take on the behavior of the seasonal influenza," says Kruger. "Basically it will continue to circulate, but we do anticipate that it will just kind of blend in like the seasonal flu."

Kruger says the vaccine available this year will contain the top three flu strains, including the H1N1. That means that patients will only need to receive one flu shot for the season.

 

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