llllllb cate NATION THE BATTALION 9A Friday, December 12, 2003 Officials say more flu vaccines on the way By Angie Wagner and Daniel Yee THE ASSOCIATED PRESS I The number ot states hit hard by the flu has nearly doubled to 24 in the past week, the gov- - emment said Thursday as it rushed to ship iaa j oses 0 f vaccine to combat short- yg ages and head off what could become one of I 1 the worst flu seasons in years. The outbreak has taken an enormous toll nationwide: At least 23 children have died. Schools have shut down. Emergency rooms have been filled with sick children. And doctors’ offices have been forced to turn away droves of people seeking flu shots. Some experts predict this year’s death toll easily could surpass the annual average of 36,000 flu deaths. Health officials are unsure why the outbreak has hit so early, why it has caused so many problems in the West, and why it seems to be so lethal in children. “If it were me, I'd be on the phone to your doctor, calling around to see if you could find some” vaccine, said Dr. Randall Todd. Nevada’s epidemiologist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu has hit all 50 states at least sporadically, and the season has not yet peaked nationally. Nearly the entire western lialf of the country — California being the edy• miowi ma j or exception — j s now considered to have widespread flu. Last week, 13 states 1 widespread outbreaks. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said the government had irranged for 100,000 doses of adult vaccine to x shipped from Aventis Pasteur immediately Nearly half of 50 states hit hard with flu Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Thursday that the flu is widespread in 24 states. Influenza activity ■I Widespread [, j Regional Local Sporadic jflheEnoloGi rop the first ir Hie bomber Air and She ties, Vo. urge spacer.- n to I» ace •chives sia? Interest group ads cannot name presidential candidates in coming weeks WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights, environmental and other obbying groups running ads for or against President Bush or any ot lis Democratic rivals now have a choice to make: Either remove the andidate’s name or pull the commercial from the airwaves. The campaign finance law that the Supreme Court upheld Wednesday bans ads that mention candidates for federal office 30 days of a primary election and 60 days of a general slection if they are paid for with “soft money.” The huge, unlimited donations from corporations, unions and ndividuals typically are used to broadcast so-called “issue ads,” which critics say are really intended to sway voters just before an election and often include sharp critiques of candidates. The restrictions kick in Sunday, 30 days before the District of Columbia’s nonbinding presidential primary. They next take effect Dec. 20 in Iowa, which holds its caucuses Jan. 19, and Dec. 28 tisfy"IW oblemsfi- erge iis lies f countries-' ar. The ^ nents jtofthe" gesting navoff ^, If I in New Hampshire, where the primary is Jan. 27. They also apply to House and Senate races. The limits do not apply to the candidates themselves, which means that anyone running for president or another federal office could name a rival in a spot airing within days of an election. U.S.-backed proposal to end nuclear crisis delivered to North Korea SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea tried to bolster hopes for a breakthrough in the North Korean nuclear crisis on Thursday, as China confirmed delivery of a pivotal U.S.-backed plan for easing tensions to North Korea. The United States, Japan and South Korea presented a blue print for ending the standoff to China, which is playing the role of mediator, earlier this week but a report Wednesday said Beijing found the plan unacceptable and never bothered relaying it. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the proposal was delivered to Pyongyang. WONDERING WHERE TO GO to SELL YOUR BOOKS? loupot’s \ BOOKSTORES GET 10% MORE ON BOOK RETURNS AT BUYBACK NORTHGATE . SOUTHGATE . WOLF PEN RESERVE ONLINE NOW! THF RATTAT TOM 1 niL D/i. 1 1/lJLlUIi Staff Application If you can write, edit, design pages, draw, use a camera... Texas A&M's award-winning newspaper is looking for you. •gain valuable experience • earn extra cash • make friends in a professional newsroom environment Name: Phone number: Cellphone or pager: E-mail: Major: Classification: Credit hours you will take in the spring Expected graduation (semester): How many hours per week would you be available for work at The Battalion? ALL APPLICANTS: Please type your responses on a separate piece of paper, and attach a resume and samples of your work (stories you have written for publications or classes, pages you have designed, photos taken, drawings made or other creative samples—just show us what you can do). Section Editor Applicants 1) What are your goals for managing your staff? 2) What do you believe is the role of the section for which you are applying? 3) What changes would you make to improve The Battalion! Pay particular attention to the position for which you’re applying. 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