"M-O-O-N... that spells flu."
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.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Had a friend’s Dad die (he was only 60!) last week due to flu complications, and then he ended up with a massive heart attack - not sure which came first, but still. A very sad situation all the way around.
You won’t catch me anywhere near a Mall or a movie theater or any place public outside of my usual rounds for a while. I’m really not looking forward to seeing my Dad at Assisted Living this upcoming week. It’s supposed to snow, so I can use that as an excuse - already caught onehelluva head cold from that place. Germ-laden Old Folks! ;)
No, Thanks!
There wasn’t flu vaccinations when I was growing up, somehow we survived.
If Americans were not VAIN, people would be wearing Masks and elimination 75% of the problem.
True dat...just not quite as many survived.
PHOOEY!!!!
"M-O-O-N... that spells flu."
When I am at the hospital I am masked.
Maybe it is because we only thought it was a cold.
Didn’t they tell us that the flu shot was only 10% effective this year? It discouraged me from getting the shot.
You never saw the Lone Ranger with the flu. Or the Phantom of the Opera, for that matter.
I’m glad I’m working out on the ranch, rarely speak to more than 2 people indoors a day, and outside the wind is always blowing.
I’m considering it; we’ll see what the weather brings this week. A BIG snowfall might buy me some time! ;)
Of course a third of the population died.
“the Lone Ranger “
He was a intuned in dude, decades ahead of his time!
I was SICK a few weeks ago with flu and my wife also. Both of us had flu shots late September and both got the flu late November. It took me almost three weeks to get over it.
My wife and I got it, and two months later got the flu. I wouldn’t get it now.
“annual flu shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months or older.”
An informative bit of information to provide would be:
Does the current vaccine cover H3N2 variant ??
Thanks. Sounds horrible this year. In Alabama, we’ve recently had a 3rd grade girl die from it. We’ve also had a university professor and a dentist die from it.
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