The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination

The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination.
The 2013 flu mature is living up to its lend billing as one of the worst in years. In Boston, where four flu-related deaths have been reported, Mayor Thomas Menino declared a federal of emergency on Wednesday, and officials are working to set up natural flu-vaccine initiatives. The city has already recorded 700 confirmed cases of flu, compared to 70 cases for all of in the end year, according to Boston dot com. At Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, PA, a tent has been set up faint the crisis department because the medical center is struggling with a burgeoning number of flu cases, lehighvalleylive jot com reported.

And in Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital has recorded a 20 percent expand in flu patients every day, ABC News reported. The 2012-2013 flu period got off to an early start, and it's only getting worse as peak flu season nears. "As we moved into the end of December and January, endeavour has really picked up in a lot more states," Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told HealthDay.

According to the example CDC statistics, which stream through Dec 29, 2013 a total of 41 states were reporting widespread flu activity. There have been 18 flu-related deaths of children so far. The prevailing strain so far this year is H3N2. "In years sometime when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we tend to see more severe ailment in young kids and the elderly".

Flu season usually peaks in late January or early February but by November the flu was already hard-hearted and widespread in some parts of the South and Southeast. An estimated 36000 nation 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 short of about 3000 to a high of about 49000 people.

Dr Robert Glatter, an pinch medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said: "We have been light of an uptick in flu-related symptoms and influenza in the former two weeks - mainly since the end of Christmas. The patients with confirmed flu are older and have more unfeeling illness compared to last flu season. However, we are also seeing an increase in children presenting with flu-like symptoms as well".

Experts voice each flu season is unique. "Why one year flu opportunity gets off to an early start versus a late start is unknown". The best sponsorship is for everyone 6 months of age and older to get the flu vaccine. "It's not too late to get vaccinated". Ample vaccine was made available, but since it's previous in the vaccination season it may be a little harder to find.

Also encouraging is that the vaccine is a all right match for the strains of flu circulating now. Flu symptoms comprehend fever, cough, fatigue, head and body aches, and runny nose. People at noteworthy risk for flu and its complications are pregnant women, those 65 and older and anyone with a chronic illness info. The CDC urges these the crowd to get the flu vaccine, which is available as an injection or nasal drizzle and in a stronger dose for seniors.