Influenza confirmed in Michigan

Health officials say they’ve confirmed the first cases of influenza in Michigan during the 2013-2014 flu season. The Michigan Department of Community Health announced Wednesday that the four cases are the first identified by a state lab this flu season. The department says the illnesses occurred in children and adults from two southeast Michigan counties. Three of the cases have been confirmed as influenza A (H1N1) 2009 viruses and one has been confirmed as being an influenza A (H3N2) virus. The department is urging people to get flu shots. Officials say it’s too early to tell what influenza viruses will circulate or how severe the influenza season may be. Michigan’s flu activity is to be reported by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “sporadic.”  (AP)