CDC: Flu Season Has Started, Could Be Severe

CDC: Flu Season Has Began, May Be Extreme

By Brenda Goodman, MA
WebMD Well being Information

Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH

Jan. Three, 2017 -- Coughing, aching, acquired a excessive fever and excessive fatigue? You might have the flu.

Shortly earlier than Christmas, labs throughout the nation began to see extra constructive flu checks. That uptick is usually the primary signal that flu season is underway.

"It undoubtedly appears to be like like flu season is right here," says Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist who's in command of monitoring the flu on the CDC.

The pressure that is inflicting most flu infections thus far this 12 months is an "A" sort pressure referred to as H3N2. That is motive for concern, specialists say.

"The dominant H3N2 A pressure is the range that causes extra extreme illness, particularly amongst older individuals," says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious illness specialist at Vanderbilt College in Nashville.

Brammer agrees.

"A whole lot of the dangerous years are H3 years. The aged and the very younger could have a tougher time this 12 months," she says.

The excellent news is that every one types of this 12 months's flu vaccine (together with each the Three-strain and Four-strain photographs) comprise H3N2, and so ought to present some safety.

The dangerous information is that flu vaccines do not are inclined to work as effectively in opposition to this explicit pressure, so you'll be able to nonetheless get it even should you've had your shot.

An evaluation of a number of research, revealed in 2016, discovered that even when the vaccine is an in depth match to the circulating H3N2 pressure, it solely cuts an individual's possibilities of getting sick by a median of 33%. The identical research discovered that flu vaccines are higher at defending in opposition to the "B" strains of the virus. When B strains are circulating, a flu vaccine can reduce an individual's possibilities of getting sick by about 61%.

Imperfect as it's, the flu vaccine remains to be the perfect weapon to blunt a virus that may land you within the hospital. And regardless that it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to turn into totally efficient, you continue to have time to get it.

"What you hope is that regardless that it did not stop the sickness, it would stop extra extreme outcomes," like hospitalization and demise, Brammer says.

The vaccine may reduce the possibilities that you will unfold the flu to extra susceptible folks, like infants and the aged.

"Run, don't stroll, to get your flu shot. Do it in your lunch break as we speak," Schaffner says.

Flu seasons often final for about 12 weeks, specialists estimate. However that may fluctuate lots, relying on the place an individual lives and what number of strains are circulating, Brammer says.

As of Dec. 24, flu exercise was excessive in 4 states -- Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, and Oklahoma -- in addition to Puerto Rico and New York Metropolis. 5 different states -- Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah -- are reporting average numbers of flu-like sicknesses, in response to the CDC's weekly FluView report. On the company's map, the remainder of the nation has began to show from a wholesome inexperienced to a not-feeling-so-great yellow.

Although this 12 months's flu season remains to be in its early days, it has already delivered some surprises, together with the primary identified case of a human catching the flu from a cat.

Does that imply you need to quarantine your kitty? In all probability not. The one that was contaminated by a cat was a veterinarian who was caring for sick animals at a New York Metropolis animal shelter that had been arduous hit by an an infection of the newer H7N2 pressure -- a pressure that is additionally carried by birds. The affected person, who has not been recognized, had gentle signs and is now higher. It is solely the third time that individual pressure has been noticed in an individual within the U.S.

Greater than 160 workers of the animal shelter have been screened for a similar pressure. The shelter additionally contacted about 80% of the individuals who'd lately adopted pets there. Nobody else seems to have been contaminated, main well being officers to imagine the danger to human well being is low.

SOURCES: William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive drugs, Vanderbilt College, Nashville. Lynnette Brammer, epidemiologist, CDC, Atlanta. Belongia, E. The Lancet Infectious Illnesses, August 2016. CDC, FluView Weekly Surveillance Report, Week 51, Dec. 24, 2016. Information launch, New York Metropolis Division of Well being, Dec. 22, 2016.

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