Flu-related deaths in Travis County rise to 11

Haggie says there are suggestions that one of the four strains of the virus contained in this year’s influenza vaccine is less than ideal.

“We had a pretty high number in 2014-15, and again in 2016-17”, Johnson said.

CDC has helped more than 60 countries build surveillance and laboratory capacity to rapidly detect and respond to influenza threats, including viruses with the potential to cause global pandemics. One possible reason is that H3N2 mutates faster than other flu viruses. As a result, flu season usually strikes later than in other regions.

According to the HSE’s weekly surveillance report, the week ending on 7 January saw the highest rate of people contracting either one of the flu viruses this year, with the majority of cases being among people aged between 15 – 64, followed by people above the age of 65. During the same week a year ago, there were 285 hospitalizations in the state. These personal losses are a reminder for all of us that flu can be a serious illness, for young and old alike.

In one indicator of a worsening season, the CDC reported 7 new pediatric flu deaths.

Harris said hospitals in almost half of Alabama counties are at 90 percent of their patient capacity.

“It is not too late to get a flu shot”, Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal said in the news release.

Oklahoma health officials say 22 people have died from the flu in the state this season, and more than 1,000 people have been hospitalized.

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include: A sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above Aching body Feeling tired or exhausted Dry, chesty cough Sore throat Headache Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Diarrhoea or tummy pain Nausea and being sick What are the different types of flu at the moment? It is a minor illness for most people, but for some it can lead to hospitalization and death.

What happened during the 1918 flu pandemic?

“It’s a little too early to know for sure if we’re peaking (with the flu) yet, but for the week that ended December 30, 2017, the flu was reported to be “widespread” in over half of the states in the USA”, she said.

“We continue to monitor the situation regarding elective surgical cancellations and assess the need on a day to day basis”.

Honeycutt said flu can strike anytime throughout the year, but most cases occur between October and April.

“The efficacy of the flu vaccine can only be determined at the end of a season”, said Haggie. Both of those seasons were seasons where the strain H3N2 was the predominant strain. And, we’re being told, the vaccine this year is particularly ineffective.

“People should do everything they can still do to reduce the risk of infection, including getting the flu vaccine”, Jernigan said. “So even if you get the flu, it will be a much more mild case of the flu than what you would have gotten”. The flu is contagious up to seven days after a person gets sick. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.