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 ...
It is easier to spread the influenza virus (flu) than previously thought, according to a new study. People commonly believe that they can catch the flu by exposure to droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces. But, new information about flu transmission reveals that we may pass the flu to others just by breathing. “
According to some people here in the US and many in the 3rd world shitholes, you should never take the vaccine.
Yup. The wife and stepson got what appeared to be Norovirus a couple months back and I noodled that and went to level IV sterilization of surfaces and hand washing and dodged the bullet. That was close! I was ecstatic to miss being married to the porcelain bowl for 2 days :-)
Neurologist son-in-law is where I got 10%.
anyway so low its almost a waste of time getting it.
The flu vaccination is only 10% effective this year.
Seems they guessed wrong.
Again......
There's a lot of that cold going around.
I started with it the day before Christmas and it was just last week that I finally started to feel better.
Still dealing with the congestion from it.
I was warned that this thing hangs on for a good month and boy, were they right.
WHEN will churches end this ridiculous “hellos and handshakes” times? In my Bible case I have a large bottle Purell that Hubby and I slather on immediately after returning to our seats. It’s not a guarantee, as we’ve both been infected in spite of the Purell. When I’m at the organ or piano I get to miss that particular germ-spreading event, so that helps.
A couple years ago we had flu, then pneumonia, and were flat on our backs for a month. If not for having to do pet maintenance, we’d gladly have died. We know we got it from church.
In crowded places keep your hands away from your face...
I’ve been down for the count with this nasty cold so have avoided as much contact with the public as possible.
When I go grocery shopping, I do it at off peak hours and buy enough for more than a week so I don’t have to keep going for little things.
And I ALWAYS wash my hands very thoroughly when I get home.
I’m so sorry to hear that! A friends husband had the same thing happen. Complications from the flu, pneumonia caused his heart to fail in the hospital. Mid 50’s. Wear a mask. It may feel odd, but it will help. Like yourself, I’m not going anywhere in public except the grocery store.
cytokine storm
Most likely as sepsis, he passed quickly.
Had the flu shot, was a pastor.
Other than the smallpox vax,there were NO vaccinations AT ALL when I grew up and most of us survived,but many didn’t.
.
About 25 years ago, one of my former co-workers received a flu shot, 18 hours later, he was paralyzed. The guy was in his mid 50’s and in excellent health. A couple of years earlier, another co-worker was rushed to the ER after an extreme allergic reaction to a flu shot. He made a full recovery but is very fortunate to be alive.
I’ll pass on the flu shot, thanks.
I agree. The handshakes put a lot of people at risk — especially the elderly.
I’ve seen a few people stay back from the handshakes saying they’ve had a cold. It’s almost a good idea to imply you’ve had a cold so you don’t put yourself at risk.
I also went through a bottle of gummy C in quick order to try to hit it from all sides.
No.
One of the strains that is covered by the vaccine is 10% effective.
Basically flu vaccines cover multiple strains, and by all accounts it is covering the others just fine.
A patient of mine caught the flu twice last year, both of which were covered by the vaccine, but he was scared of needles.
He was vaccinated this year.
I am kind of unsure if I should bother getting it this late in the season. I also fear getting sick from the shot.
I haven’t gotten it in a few years. I am mid 50s and never had a pneumonia shot either.
The media seems to create a lot of confusion concerning flu shots. I was thinking if it was only 10% effective, why bother?
Folks that get flu frequently die of pneumonia
A few years ago my mother was in the hospital. She went to be with the Lord while there.
One of the things I remember the doctor, an elderly doctor, telling us, is that pneumonia is one of God’s gifts to the elderly. I guess people die from pneumonia without a lot of pain or knowledge of what’s going on.
My mother didn’t pass because of pneumonia. It was a concern but she passed because of infection related to a surgery. That’s another story but I remembered what this doctor said about pneumonia. I’ll add that I didn’t have a lot of confidence in this doctor and I don’t know if it’s true or not.
My mother’s father passed away with pneumonia when he was 33. I am not sure if he had the flu before that or not.
The point I was trying to make is that lots of old people die of pneumonia related to different ailments that can be treated.
There are two pneumonia shots. Wise people get both
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