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Flu on the Rise in Dallas County

(cc) Lance McCord (flickr.com)

By BJ Austin, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-817959.mp3

Dallas, TX – A dramatic rise in the number of flu cases in Dallas County has prompted Health officials to offer FREE flu shots. KERA's BJ Austin says it's "while supplies last".

Dallas County has seen a 15% jump in the number of flu cases over the past week. The Health Department's Jacqueline Bell says flu season' is definitely here, and people need to get flu shots NOW.

Bell: We want to remove that economic barrier from people getting the flu shots in order to protect themselves and their families, so flu shots are free to both adults and children as long as our remaining supply lasts.

That's at the County Health Clinic on Stemmons Expressway. In Tarrant County, the Health Department's Vanessa Joseph says they have NOT seen a spike in the number of flu cases, but have seen about five thousand flu-like illnesses reported. She expects cases of the "true flu" to increase as the season usually peaks in February. Joseph says it's not too late to get a flu shot.

Send E-mail to BJ Austin