Status Of Viral Influenza Activity This Season

Status Of Viral Influenza Activity This Season.
Although winter hasn't even arrived, the initial signs of flu time have, US well-being officials said Friday. In fact, Georgia is whereas a artful increase in influenza cases, mostly among school-aged children, with the splendour calling it a regional outbreak found here. The Georgia cases may be an untimely sign of what's in store for the rest of the country once flu occasion really gets under way in the winter, officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

But there's allowable news, too: the flu strains circulating so far seem to be a close-matched fellow for this season's vaccine and next week has been designated by the CDC as National Influenza Vaccination Week. "Flu is coming," Dr Anne Schuchat, number one of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during an afternoon throw one's arms about conference urgent need for spot jp54. "This downgrade has begun be so many influenza seasons, with extent few flu viruses circulating through the end of November".

However, last season's H1N1 flu pandemic was very several from what is usually seen and people shouldn't be complacent because flu hasn't roared back yet proextender. Schuchat distinguished that this year's flu vaccine is designed to tiff the H1N1 pandemic strain, as well as strains H3N2 and influenza B.

In Georgia, influenza B is the impair that is being seen most front now. "The mass of B viruses from Georgia are related to the B virus that is in our vaccine, so we envisage the vaccine to be a good match against this B strain that is already causing very much a bit of disease". The vaccine is also a authentic match for the other flu strains seen so far, including H1N1, H2N2 and the influenza B virus.

Schuchat believes that all Americans, excuse children under 6 months of age, should get a flu shot. "I strongly inspirit settle to get vaccinated to make sure you're protected and to force sure your children are protected too". Children under 9 years of epoch may need two doses of the vaccine to be protected.

Many Americans may be heeding the CDC's vaccination news this year. "We are encouraged by the loads of people who have already received the flu vaccine". According to an mechanism survey, as of mid-November about a third of Americans had already been immunized. Another 15 percent said they planned to get vaccinated and 25 percent said they likely would get vaccinated. That's about the same as latest year.

The highest portion of people who have been vaccinated are those 65 and older, with about 64 percent of vaccinations occurring middle seniors, according to the survey. In other CDC surveys, the energy found that 56 percent of health-care workers reported having gotten their flu shot. Another 7 percent lay out to get vaccinated.

Among preggers women - a set apart hit especially hard by H1N1 go the distance flu season - 45 percent said they had already been vaccinated and another 4 percent said they planned on getting the shot. This year the vaccine is handy at register levels, with more than 160 million doses already distributed.

Speaking at the statement conference, Dr Howard Koh, subordinate secretary for health in the US Department of Health and Human Services, said that "flu pursuit is increasing across the country. If you've been conclusion about getting vaccinated for influenza, now is a valid time to do so".

The flu is unpredictable and potentially deadly, so one and all should get a flu shot. Koh noted that under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all young salubriousness insurance plans will cover flu shots, with no co-pays. According to CDC estimates, approximately 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year, and more than 200000 kith and kin are hospitalized for flu-related complications site here. From 1976 to 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths ranged from a melancholy of about 3000 to a violent of about 49000 people.