The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination

The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination.
The 2013 flu ripen is living up to its go forward billing as one of the worst in years. In Boston, where four flu-related deaths have been reported, Mayor Thomas Menino declared a testify of predicament on Wednesday, and officials are working to set up relaxed flu-vaccine initiatives. The conurbation has already recorded 700 confirmed cases of flu, compared to 70 cases for all of end year, according to Boston bespeckle com natural. At Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, PA, a tent has been set up false front the difficulty department because the medical center is struggling with a burgeoning number of flu cases, lehighvalleylive period com reported.

And in Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital has recorded a 20 percent gain in flu patients every day, ABC News reported. The 2012-2013 flu period got off to an originally start, and it's only getting worse as bill flu season nears get more info. "As we moved into the end of December and January, action has really picked up in a lot more states," Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told HealthDay.

According to the news CDC statistics, which rivulet through Dec 29, 2013 a amount to of 41 states were reporting widespread flu activity. There have been 18 flu-related deaths of children so far. The paramount crane so far this year is H3N2. "In years gone when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we incline to see more severe illness in young kids and the elderly".

Flu mellow usually peaks in late January or early February but by November the flu was already critical and widespread in some parts of the South and Southeast. An estimated 36000 commonality die from the flu and its complications in a characteristic season, according to the CDC. From 1976 to 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States ranged from a murmured of about 3000 to a on a trip of about 49000 people.

Dr Robert Glatter, an crisis medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said: "We have been light of an uptick in flu-related symptoms and influenza in the lifestyle two weeks - mainly since the end of Christmas. The patients with confirmed flu are older and have more ruthless indisposition compared to last flu season. However, we are also inasmuch as an increase in children presenting with flu-like symptoms as well".

Experts guess each flu season is unique. "Why one year flu mature gets off to an early start versus a late stick out is unknown". The best protection is for everyone 6 months of seniority and older to get the flu vaccine. "It's not too late to get vaccinated". Ample vaccine was made available, but since it's recently in the vaccination time it may be a little harder to find.

Also encouraging is that the vaccine is a full match for the strains of flu circulating now. Flu symptoms cover fever, cough, fatigue, head and body aches, and runny nose. People at individual risk for flu and its complications are enceinte women, those 65 and older and anyone with a chronic illness hong kong. The CDC urges these relations to get the flu vaccine, which is nearby as an injection or nasal spray and in a stronger dose for seniors.