Flu Cases Starting to Spread: CDC

Flu Circumstances Beginning to Unfold: CDC

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay Information) -- Flu exercise continues to rise throughout the US and there is been a slight uptick within the variety of deaths within the final week, federal well being officers reported Friday.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention says it is nonetheless not too late to get a flu shot. That is notably necessary for essentially the most weak -- the very younger, the aged, the chronically in poor health and pregnant girls, officers mentioned.

"It will have been higher to get vaccinated early, however there's nonetheless potential profit from the vaccine," Lynnette Brammer, a CDC epidemiologist, mentioned Friday.

She mentioned flu exercise is "nonetheless going up -- pretty slowly -- however it's nonetheless growing."

"We're beginning to see a rise in flu-related deaths," she added, "though deaths aren't at a stage thought-about epidemic."

The CDC would not observe the variety of adults who die from flu, however it does maintain tabs on little one deaths.

"Two extra kids died this week, bringing the full to 5 to this point," Brammer mentioned.

Final 12 months, 128 kids died from flu-related problems, in accordance with the CDC.

Brammer mentioned flu exercise is choosing up within the middle of the nation, which was reporting low exercise solely per week in the past.

"Some locations just like the Northwest might have peaked, however it appears like areas that have not been hit onerous are beginning to see exercise," she mentioned. "Even when we have been at peak, you've got nonetheless bought half the season to go."

The dominant flu pressure continues to be H3N2, which frequently alerts a extreme season that impacts the oldest and the youngest the toughest, Brammer mentioned.

On the plus facet: this 12 months would not appear as extreme as essentially the most extreme H3 years, she mentioned.

H1N1 and B viruses are additionally circulating, Brammer mentioned.

This 12 months's vaccine accommodates all of the circulating viruses, she mentioned.

The CDC recommends that anybody aged 6 months and older get a flu shot. Moreover the aged and the chronically in poor health, pregnant girls additionally fall into the high-risk group in want of vaccination.

Additionally, moms of newborns want a flu shot to assist defend their infants, who cannot be vaccinated till they're 6 months previous.

For folks aged 65 and older, the extra-strength vaccine is a good suggestion, Brammer mentioned. It is available in two sorts: the high-dose vaccine and the adjuvanted vaccine.

Most years, the vaccine is between 40 p.c and 60 p.c efficient, in accordance with the CDC.

When you do get sick, there are antiviral medicine that may assist. Tamiflu and Relenza are efficient if taken early.

In a typical flu season, flu problems -- together with pneumonia -- ship greater than 200,000 People to the hospital. Loss of life charges fluctuate yearly, however have gone as excessive as 49,000 in a 12 months, in accordance with the CDC.

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SOURCE: Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., epidemiologist, U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention