Health officials prepare for large crowds at flu shot clinics

The county Health Department plans to handle large crowds of people seeking flu shots at its first adult clinic of the year tomorrow by using color-coded forms to assign times.

The clinic comes as the state's first confirmed case of the flu has been reported in Baltimore County, making Maryland one of nine states that have reported cases so far this fall, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Health Secretary Anthony McCann encouraged state residents to take common sense steps to prevent the spread of the influenza virus, precautions that are particularly important because of the national vaccine...