Warning on Flu: It’s Not Going Away Just Yet, CDC Says

As the virus continues to sweep across the U.S.at epidemic levels, vaccine effectiveness level was 48 percent against acute respiratory illness from the end of November through February 4, according to an analysis of 3,144 people enrolled in the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network.

Doctors say it is not too late to get vaccinated.

Last week, the CDC released a report showing that the vaccine’s overall effectiveness was 48 percent.

That was also the dominant strain in the 2014-15 season, but it had “drifted” from H3N2 strain in that season’s vaccine, which contributed to making that season more severe.

Image credit: Monet / Fotolia / EmpowHer ” There is still time to go out and get it.

Specifically, the report said that from January 29 to February 4, the percentage of patients visiting the doctor for flu-like symptoms was 4.8 percent.

Flu season typically peaks around now and can last as long as May.

“The current flu vaccine is the best preventative measure we now have”. After vaccination, it takes a person about two weeks to build up immunity against the flu. It can cut the chances of getting the flu in half. The committee members consider which viruses are making people sick, where those viruses are spreading and how well the previous season’s vaccine protects against them.

It was third highest weekly figure since 2009, topped only by two weeks in March of past year, according to Health Department’s data.

Fairfield County had the most flu cases, at 894, followed by Hartford (704), New Haven (586), Windham (103), New London (78), Litchfield (74), Tolland (64) and Middlesex (57). Tough, it might seem like a lot of cases, Rigler assures that many cases have been halved his year. So far, 32 people have died. Because of that, this has become the worst flu season in Idaho since 2000’s.

CDC officials said that even though only weeks remain in this influenza season, patients who get vaccinated now will still be better protected against illness, particularly in light of a small uptick recently seen in influenza B virus activity.

But “nobody likes needles, including dogs”, says Luis Martinez-Sobrido, an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Rochester who led the research on live-attenuated (also called modified live) influenza vaccines (LAIVs).

Older adults are getting the hardest hit with the most common strain, H3N2.

As could be expected, those older than 65 years have had the highest rate of influenza-related hospitalizations at roughly 115 per 100,000 people.