Flu Season This Year Began At Christmas

Flu Season This Year Began At Christmas.
In Chicago, a convalescent home staff member describes the crisis department as "knee-deep in flu and pneumonia cases". In Richmond, VA, Dr Kenneth Lucas of the Patient First clinic says he's seen a 30 percent awaken in flu cases, which "hit the fiend around Christmastime" and "really rolled in with the holidays". And in Rhode Island, where almost 10 percent of difficulty range visits in the former week were due to flu-like symptoms, circumstance Health Department Director Michael Fine predicts this could be the worst flu occasion in years bestvito.eu. This year's influenza mellow got off to an early start, and according to these and other published accounts it's ramping up as climax flu season nears.

And "as we have moved into the end of December and January, pursuit has really picked up in a lot more states," said Tom Skinner, spokesman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu opportunity most often peaks in departed January or early February but by November the flu was already severe and widespread in some parts of the South and Southeast.

Farther north, job has escalated in the Mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia, in totalling to Illinois and Rhode Island. "We did get off to an earlier bug out than we usually see". According to the most up to date CDC statistics, last updated Dec 22, 2012 16 states and New York City were reporting excessive levels of flu activity. The states embody Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Experts command each flu time is unique. "Why one year flu age gets off to an anciently beginning versus a time start is unknown". Last year's flu season was comparatively mild. "We would expect this year's flu season will be more critical than last year, but how severe it's too early to say".

The main strain so far this year is H3N2. "In years by when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we tend to see more severe illness in litter kids and the elderly". An estimated 36000 consumers die from the flu and its complications in a typical season, according to the CDC. From 1976 to 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States ranged from a gentle of about 3000 to a momentous of about 49000 people.

The best keeping is for everyone 6 months of age and older to get the flu vaccine. "It's not too past to get vaccinated". Ample vaccine was made available, but since it's past due in the vaccination season it may be a teensy-weensy harder to find.

Also encouraging is that the vaccine is a good match for the strains of flu circulating now. Flu symptoms number fever, cough, fatigue, first and body aches, and runny nose. People at also persnickety risk for flu and its complications are pregnant women, those 65 and older and anyone with a dyed in the wool illness testosterone. The CDC urges these folk to get the flu vaccine, which is available as an injection or nasal shower and in a stronger dose for seniors.