{"article":{"id":245727,"heading":"Flu claimed at least 17 lives in London this season","author":"Gabi","created":"2011-05-05 18:04:06","modified":"2011-05-05 18:04:06","last_modified":"Fri, 06 May 2011 01:04:06","article":"<p>The deaths in laboratory confirmed cases included two children, 11 seniors and four people under 65 years of age. <br><br> The much feared pandemic flu a year earlier claimed eight lives in the city and county. <br><br> This flu season started on Sept. 5, 2010 in London and Middlesex. <br><br> In total there were 28 outbreaks declared in institutions, mainly long-term care homes. <br><br> There were 159 people hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed flu - 59% were individuals over age 65. <br><br> Health officials have blamed the heavy flu season, the worst in more than a decade, on a drop in vaccination rates. <br><br> With flu activity now at a low level, the health unit has suspended vaccination clinics.<\/p>\n","contact":"gabitza@gmail.com","link":"http:\/\/www.fluandcold.net\/","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Flu claimed at least 17 lives in the London region this season, according to the final surveillance report for the season by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2011\/05\/245727.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}