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Flu Season Getting Worse, As Illness Has 'Lot More Steam' Than Expected
Fox News ^ | 1-21-2018 | Travis Fedschun

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: flu; influenza; medical; unexpected
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To: boycott

That was a study in Australia, earlier in the season.


61 posted on 01/21/2018 8:15:05 PM PST by firebrand
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To: boycott

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.


62 posted on 01/21/2018 8:21:40 PM PST by Pining_4_TX (For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. ~ Hosea 8:7)
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To: dmet

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.


63 posted on 01/21/2018 8:24:11 PM PST by Pining_4_TX (For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. ~ Hosea 8:7)
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To: lizma2

Thank you for the encouragement. And I sure hope you are right.


64 posted on 01/21/2018 8:24:28 PM PST by Aliska
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To: Reily

5% per my CC friend


65 posted on 01/21/2018 8:27:02 PM PST by Hoosier-Daddy ("Washington, DC. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious")
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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.


66 posted on 01/21/2018 8:28:15 PM PST by firebrand
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To: blam

My great niece just passed away at 3 months old with the flu. Our family is devastated. Prayers appreciated.


67 posted on 01/21/2018 8:50:17 PM PST by Peesypie
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To: blam; 2ndreconmarine; Fitzcarraldo; Covenantor; Mother Abigail; EBH; Dog Gone; ...
Infectious Disease Ping - flu continues growing and more deadly

(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.,...

68 posted on 01/21/2018 8:54:41 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: Aliska

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.


69 posted on 01/21/2018 9:20:40 PM PST by lizma2
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

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.


70 posted on 01/21/2018 9:27:16 PM PST by Pelham (California, a subsidiary of Mexico, Inc.)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

bkmk


71 posted on 01/21/2018 9:30:40 PM PST by kelly4c
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To: Terry Mross

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.


72 posted on 01/21/2018 9:31:27 PM PST by Pelham (California, a subsidiary of Mexico, Inc.)
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To: shelterguy

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.


73 posted on 01/21/2018 9:38:44 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: Peesypie
My great niece just passed away at 3 months old with the flu. Our family is devastated. Prayers appreciated.

Prayers sent for you and your family, Peesypie.

74 posted on 01/21/2018 10:07:52 PM PST by KJC1 (Illegals: One hand out and the other one flipping us the bird)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

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.


75 posted on 01/22/2018 3:59:20 AM PST by trebb (I stopped picking on the mentally ill hypocrites who pose as conservatives......;-))
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To: EDINVA

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.


76 posted on 01/22/2018 4:10:28 AM PST by shelterguy
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To: boycott

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?


77 posted on 01/22/2018 4:58:40 AM PST by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up buttercups it's President Donald Trump!)
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To: Axenolith
The primary advantage comes in the mask arresting aerosolized droplets, not the virus itself.

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.

78 posted on 01/22/2018 5:19:52 AM PST by DCBryan1 (No realli, moose bytes can be quite nasti!)
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To: Rusty0604

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. :)


79 posted on 01/22/2018 5:32:34 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: trebb

The Enemy Media are truly not exaggerating how bad this is...for a change!


80 posted on 01/22/2018 5:33:57 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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