A Rough Start To The Flu Season

A Rough Start To The Flu Season.
After a cruel start-up to the flu season, the number of infections seems to have peaked and is even starting to decline in many parts of the nation, federal haleness officials reported Thursday. "We likely reached our highest position of activity and in many parts of the country we are starting to see flu activity decline," said Dr Michael Jhung, a medical officer of the law in US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Influenza Division. Jhung added, however, that flu remains widespread in much of the country.

As has been the cause since the flu mature began, the predominant type of flu continues to be an H3N2 strain, which is not a probity match to this year's vaccine. The majority of H3N2-related infections diagnosed so far - 65 percent - are "different from the roots in the vaccine. The reason: the circulating H3N2 stretch mutated after scientists settled last year on the makeup of this season's flu shot. This year's flu condition continues to hit children and the elderly hardest.

And some children continue to pop one's clogs from flu. "That's not surprising," Jhung said, adding that 56 children have died from complications of flu. In an mean year, children's deaths vary from as few as 30 to as many as 170 or more, CDC officials said. Jhung thinks that over the next few weeks, as in other flu seasons, particular flu strains - such as H1N1 - will undoubtedly become more common. "I expect to see some other strains circulating, but I don't understand how much.

That could be good news on the vaccine front. Right now, the flu vaccine is only about 23 percent effective, due to the mutated H3N2 strain. But, as other strains become more widespread, the vaccine's effectiveness should increase. Most years, flu vaccine effectiveness ranges from 10 percent to 60 percent, according to the CDC. Twenty-three percent effectiveness means there's some improve - a scrap less flu amidst vaccinated people.

Typically, flu is more familiar amid the unvaccinated, but this year there's been a lot of flu both in people who are vaccinated and in those who aren't, CDC officials said. Vaccine effectiveness is also tied up to the health of those getting the shot. Flu vaccine usually works best in young, beneficial people, and is less effective in those 65 and older, the CDC said. So far, this year's swallow has been most effective - 26 percent - for children 6 months aged through 17 years.

Older people have been getting less benefit - 12 percent effectiveness for those 18 to 49 years and 14 percent effectiveness for those 50 and older, according to the CDC. Jhung said that all the text licence now suggest that this flu season will be like the last H3N2 season - in 2012-13. "At the end of that season, we called it a 'moderately severe' season. And even though it's well into the flu season, Jhung said it's not too overdue to get a flu shot. "It's the pre-eminent line of protection.

The CDC recommends that all 6 months and older get vaccinated. Vaccination can prevent some infections and compress severe disease that can lead to hospitalization and death, the agency says. Other ways to deal with and prevent flu from spreading include early treatment with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza, and washing hands customarily and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing. As of the middle of January, all areas of the provinces reported flu activity at or above baseline levels. Twenty-three states and Puerto Rico prepared high activity. Ten states and New York City savvy moderate activity. Another 10 states reported low flu activity and seven states reported token activity, the CDC reported read this. a.