Status Of Viral Influenza Activity This Season

Status Of Viral Influenza Activity This Season.
Although winter hasn't even arrived, the first off signs of flu occasion have, US health officials said Friday. In fact, Georgia is since a sharp increase in influenza cases, mostly centre of school-aged children, with the state calling it a regional outbreak. The Georgia cases may be an ancient sign of what's in store for the rest of the country once flu season really gets under practice in the winter, officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

But there's cracking news, too: the flu strains circulating so far seem to be a close match for this season's vaccine and next week has been designated by the CDC as National Influenza Vaccination Week. "Flu is coming," Dr Anne Schuchat, president of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during an afternoon hurry conference. "This lowering has begun like so many influenza seasons, with comparatively few flu viruses circulating through the end of November".

However, last season's H1N1 flu pandemic was very unique from what is usually seen and people shouldn't be complacent because flu hasn't roared back yet. Schuchat prominent that this year's flu vaccine is designed to fight the H1N1 pandemic strain, as well as strains H3N2 and influenza B.

In Georgia, influenza B is the heave that is being seen most right now. "The more than half of B viruses from Georgia are related to the B virus that is in our vaccine, so we expect the vaccine to be a palatable match against this B strain that is already causing quite a bit of disease". The vaccine is also a exemplary match for the other flu strains seen so far, including H1N1, H2N2 and the influenza B virus.

Schuchat believes that all Americans, exclude children under 6 months of age, should get a flu shot. "I strongly onward people to get vaccinated to make sure you're protected and to make guaranteed your children are protected too". Children under 9 years of age may need two doses of the vaccine to be protected.

Many Americans may be heeding the CDC's vaccination recommendation this year. "We are encouraged by the several of people who have already received the flu vaccine". According to an agency survey, as of mid-November about a third of Americans had already been immunized. Another 15 percent said they planned to get vaccinated and 25 percent said they in all probability would get vaccinated. That's about the same as remain year.

The highest proportion of people who have been vaccinated are those 65 and older, with about 64 percent of vaccinations occurring amid seniors, according to the survey. In other CDC surveys, the operation found that 56 percent of health-care workers reported having gotten their flu shot. Another 7 percent intend to get vaccinated.

Among pregnant women - a accumulation hit especially hard by H1N1 last flu season - 45 percent said they had already been vaccinated and another 4 percent said they planned on getting the shot. This year the vaccine is present at track record levels, with more than 160 million doses already distributed.

Speaking at the news conference, Dr Howard Koh, subordinate secretary for health in the US Department of Health and Human Services, said that "flu energy is increasing across the country. If you've been thinking about getting vaccinated for influenza, now is a shapely time to do so".

The flu is unpredictable and potentially deadly, so everyone should get a flu shot. Koh eminent that under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all new robustness insurance plans will cover flu shots, with no co-pays. According to CDC estimates, approximately 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year, and more than 200000 multitude are hospitalized for flu-related complications helpful hints. From 1976 to 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths ranged from a naughty of about 3000 to a violent of about 49000 people.