Posted on 01/21/2018 4:27:01 PM PST by blam
The flu season that's already been the worst in nearly a decade is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, according to the latest report released Friday from the nation's health protection agency.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu that is blanketing every state except Hawaii is growing more intense and deadly. So far this season, the flu has claimed the lives of at least 30 children, according to the latest CDC report.
"The peak of flu season is in February, so we have about a month for things to get worse," Dr. Manny Alvarez, Fox News Senior Managing Health Editor, said Sunday on "America's News HQ."
Dr. Kelly Powers provides insight about this especially virulent strain. Video
Thirty-two states reported high patient traffic last week, up from 26 the previous week. That is how the CDC gets a measure of the season based on how many doctor or hospital visits are because of cough or other flu symptoms. Overall, the health agency said it was the busiest week for flu symptoms in nine years.
FLU DEATHS PROMPT WARNINGS FROM VICTIMS' FAMILIES AS OUTBREAK CONTINUES
"This is a season that has a lot more steam than we thought," Dr. Dan Jernigan with the CDC told the Associated Press.
The virus that's predominating this year is Influenza A (H3N2), and that tends to be more severe. It affects the elderly and the very young, epidemiologist Lynnette Brammer, who leads the CDC's Domestic Influenza Surveillance Team, told Fox News.
In a bad season, there are as many as 56,000 deaths connected to the flu. In the U.S., annual flu shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months or older.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That was a study in Australia, earlier in the season.
It was only about 10% effective in Australia. Doctors are saying that the shot given here is perhaps 30-40% effective. Even if you don’t want one for your own health, consider the people with whom you come in contact. You might save someone else’s life. Also, if you have the shot and still get the flu, it will probably be less severe than if you had not been vaccinated.
From what I have read, the answer is maybe. Apparently this strain of the flu is a clever bugger and can mutate rather quickly. There is also something about it not responding as well to vaccines grown in eggs (which they are). At any event, it doesn’t hurt to get the shot, so I it even if the protection isn’t as good as we hope. It’s better than nothing.
Thank you for the encouragement. And I sure hope you are right.
5% per my CC friend
I put off getting the shot until 5 days ago. CVS has been out of the vaccine for more than 3 weeks. A freeper friend scared me into getting the shot, and said wear a mask.
I take lots of ester C and D3—and echinacea if I feel the slightest symptom.
Hope we get control of this soon.
My great niece just passed away at 3 months old with the flu. Our family is devastated. Prayers appreciated.
(from the article):" The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu that is blanketing every state except Hawaii is growing more intense and deadly.
So far this season, the flu has claimed the lives of at least 30 children, according to the latest CDC report."
"The peak of flu season is in February, so we have about a month for things to get worse," so said Dr. Manny Alvarez.
The very young, the very old, and those with suppressed immune systems are most vulnerable.
Best bet : Avoid crowds and large groups, take precautions, make use of masks and towel wipes in your grocery store, wash hands frequently, etc., etc.,...
I survived and I’ve been getting AARP junk mail forever!
She’ll be fine. Ginger tea helps a lot with the nausea. Robitussin DM with the cough.
It’s the other way around. People think a cold is the flu, so they don’t take flu seriously. A cold makes you miserable, the flu can kill you.
bkmk
1918 flu very nearly killed my grandfather. He was in the army at a stateside post, maybe in Arkansas. The 1918 flu is believed to have begun in western Kansas.
I hope your son has a full and complete recovery from whatever has kept him in hospital for 71 day. We went thru similar years ago with one of my sons, every day is an eternity.
Prayers sent for you and your family, Peesypie.
Wife and I are in mid-60s and caught what appered to be a bad cold that took a couple weeks to get over (still not 100% right even though i don’t feel sick) but have one friend who got the Flu and spent 2 days in hospital because they thought he was having heart problems. Another friend was fine and dandy when I saw him and 3 days later was in ICU and intubated for 3 days. Now breathing on his own but still in ICU. Been trying to avoid places with lots of people all through the season.
Thank you for the support.
They still don’t even know what he has. Tissue samples have been sent to labs around the country since September. No diagnosis yet. He had a lung collapse last week during a broncoscopy so that adds to the thrill of it all. Good times.
Children have also died from Tamiflu, that is not mentioned.
Most people don’t recognize dehydration fast enough. That includes the medical community. How many children are sent home from ER’s with the conclusion it’s just a ear infection, when it’s much worse. Neice was, she had Spinal Menigitis ended up spending a month in another hospital and nearly died.
Elderly and Immune Compromised get a Tripple Flu shot, why it’s more likely to kill them as their systems can’t handle it?
And more importantly, a secondary effect that keeps the virus from your nose/mouth when naturally touching your face. If you pick up a virus from an door knob/elevator button in public, and you wash your hands and avoid touching your face, you are much less likely to get the flu. America is to vain to wear a mask, but they should, in public.
With that being said, I get my flu shot the week it is made available.
Our neighbor had it, though he’s 2 miles away. The wife and kids didn’t get it - and they were all very grateful, as were we. :)
The Enemy Media are truly not exaggerating how bad this is...for a change!
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