Flu Season This Year Began At Christmas

Flu Season This Year Began At Christmas.
In Chicago, a dispensary staff member describes the emergency 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 hillock in flu cases, which "hit the booster around Christmastime" and "really rolled in with the holidays". And in Rhode Island, where almost 10 percent of danger room visits in the olden times week were due to flu-like symptoms, state Health Department Director Michael Fine predicts this could be the worst flu ripen in years. This year's influenza season got off to an early start, and according to these and other published accounts it's ramping up as apogee flu season nears.

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

Farther north, occupation has escalated in the Mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia, in addition to Illinois and Rhode Island. "We did get off to an earlier start-up than we usually see". According to the most recent CDC statistics, aftermost updated Dec 22, 2012 16 states and New York City were reporting on a trip levels of flu activity. The states include Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Experts bring up each flu condition is unique. "Why one year flu age gets off to an early start versus a tardy start is unknown". Last year's flu season was relatively mild. "We would watch this year's flu season will be more severe than last year, but how severe it's too early to say".

The ascendant strain so far this year is H3N2. "In years past when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we minister to to see more severe illness in young kids and the elderly". An estimated 36000 common people 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 muted of about 3000 to a high of about 49000 people.

The best charge is for everyone 6 months of age and older to get the flu vaccine. "It's not too previous to get vaccinated". Ample vaccine was made available, but since it's late in the vaccination season it may be a taste 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, head and body aches, and runny nose. People at finicky risk for flu and its complications are pregnant women, those 65 and older and anyone with a persistent illness more information. The CDC urges these people to get the flu vaccine, which is available as an injection or nasal vaporizer and in a stronger dose for seniors.