Flu Season Precautions
While the flu season got off to a slow start in the United States last fall, influenza is now circulating in all 50 states and is widespread in 37, health officials report.
Of the three confirmed flu viruses — influenza A H1N1, influenza A H3N2 and influenza B — the H3N2 strain has predominated, but all three are circulating, according to the CDC report. The relative proportions have varied by time period and region this flu season.
The percentage of overall deaths attributed to pneumonia or influenza first exceeded the epidemic threshold in late January, the CDC says. Pneumonia and influenza were reported as underlying causes of death for 8% of all fatalities for the week ending Feb. 5, reaching the epidemic threshold of 7.97%.
As of Feb. 5, the CDC says 30 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported from 18 states. During the pandemic of 2009, the CDC says 329 pediatric deaths were reported between April 15, 2009, and Jan. 23, 2010.
“We still have a lot of flu out there,” said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. “We saw activity really start to pick up in December, and it has continued through January into February, which is normal,” he said.
Every year, around 200,000 Americans will find themselves in the hospital and close to 20 percent of them will die from the flu. The CDC says
Unlike last year, when the H1N1 flu swept the globe, there is no pandemic. All flu seasons are unique, Skinner said, but there is “nothing extraordinary going on when it comes to our flu season.”
Health officials explain that although flu season is at its peak, it may not be too late to get a vaccination since the flu season could continue as late as May.
