The US winter virus season is fully powerful, one scale is the most intense of 15 years.
One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctors’ office visits due to flu-like symptoms. That number was clearly higher than the peak winter flu season when the 2009-2010 winter flu pandemic hit the country, according to data posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday morning. .
Of course, other viral infections can be mistaken for influenza. However, hospital data shows that Covid-19 appears to be on the decline. Also, available data suggest that another respiratory disease, RSV, is declining nationwide.
The flu has forced schools to close in some states. The Godley Independent School District, a 3,200-student system near Fort Worth, Texas, was closed for three days after 650 students and 60 staff left Tuesday.
District spokesman Jeff Meadowl said the majority of the diseases there were influenza, and there were several streptococci. He called it the worst flu season he remembers.
So far, the CDC estimates that at least 24 million people have had flu illnesses, including at least 57 children, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths. Traditionally, the flu season peaks around February.
Overall, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week. The flu was the most intense in the south, southwest and western states.
In Rochester, New York, the flu season was intense, but not necessarily worse than the peak of other years, said Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency medical doctor at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
She said she has a lot of flu, but she still has a lot of RSV and an astonishing number of babies with Covid-19.
“All respiratory illnesses are being reinstated,” Murray added.
The CDC refused to let Associated Press reporters talk to agency influenza experts about recent trends. The Trump administration has ordered a temporary “suspension” on health agency communications and continues to reject requests for interviews that have been routinely accepted in the past.
Late Friday afternoon, a CDC spokesman admitted that new data shows the “highest absolute value” of influenza-like illnesses when compared to other seasons, but statistics are complicated He added. Baselines are recalculated annually. In late January, the CDC described the season as “moderate” severity.
US health officials recommend that everyone ages six months or older receive the annual flu vaccine.
It’s cold again and the flu season. This means you can wonder which virus is causing your symptoms. This is what you need to know.
Approximately 44% of adults have earned flu shots this winter. This is the same as last winter. However, child coverage has declined considerably, at around 45% this winter. According to CDC data, it is usually about 50%.
Approximately 23% of US adults were up to date with Covid-19 vaccinations in late January, up from about 20% at the same time last year. The Covid-19 vaccination rate for children was almost the same, at around 12%.
The government has yet to report estimates on how well the flu vaccines are working this season.
Patient test results show two strains of seasonal influenza (type A H1N1 and type A H3N2) that cause most diseases. Health officials are looking closely at the third strain known to have tens of millions of animals sick, but only 67 people in the US — avian influenza known as type A H5N1. Masu.
To avoid seasonal viruses, doctors say they need to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth as the bacteria can spread like that. You should also wash your hands with soap and water, clean frequently touched surfaces, and avoid intimate contact with sick people.
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The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution’s Science and Education Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.
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