By KEITH UPCHURCH

kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612

DURHAM -- A new virus, the so-called H1N1 influenza, reared its ugly head in March and sickened Durham residents the rest of the year.

As a vaccine became available, clinics were held throughout Durham, including three mass clinics at the National Guard Armory that drew thousands for their shots or nasal spray.

At first, the vaccines were available only to groups considered at higher risk, but in December, those restrictions were lifted, and anyone except children under 6 months old can now get them.

In November, Duke University Health System announced that a small number of its patients had become resistant to Tamiflu, a drug used to treat the disease. They said this meant the virus had mutated in those cases, but there was no reason to believe the mutation would become widespread, and so far, they say that continues to be the case.

The disease also took the life of Lillian Chason, an 18-year-old UNC Chapel Hill freshman who had been hospitalized at UNC Hospitals since Nov. 20 and died Dec. 16.

In mid-December, a final mass clinic of the year in Durham was held at the Armory, but drew fewer people than earlier clinics.

Gayle Harris, director of the Durham County Health Department, said a recall of shots that had lost some strength might have kept some people away, although there was never a safety issue with the limited recall. She worried that many Durham residents had stopped taking the disease seriously, and urged everyone to get the vaccine to protect themselves.

As the new year begins, she said, the seasonal -- or traditional -- flu is likely to surface, meaning that two types of flu virus will be circulating. She emphasized that everyone needs to get shots for both flu viruses.

Harris also said that there continues to be uncertainty about the virus, and that it could mutate and create many more serious illnesses and even deaths. Time will tell if that happens. But meanwhile, she said, getting vaccinated is the best protection.