A flu vaccine is displayed in a pharmacy in New York, on Tuesday 24 September 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File
The American winter virus season is fully in force and is the most intense in 15 years in one size.
An indicator for flu activity is the percentage of visiting the doctor who driven by flu -like symptoms. Last week that number was clearly higher than the peak of a winter flu season since 2009-2010, according to facts Posted on Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of course, other viral infections can be seen for flu. But COVID-19 seems to decrease, according to hospital data and to CDC modeling projections. Available data Also suggests that another respiratory disease, RSV, fades nationally.
The flu has forced schools to close in some states. The Godley Independent School District, a system of 3,200 students near Fort Worth, Texas, ended three days last week after 650 students and 60 employees were out on Tuesday.
Jeff Meador, a spokesperson for the district, said that the vast majority of diseases have been flu there, plus some sore throat. He called it the worst flu season he could remember.
Until now, the CDC treasure has been on this season, there have been at least 24 million flu diseases, 310,000 hospital admissions and 13,000 deaths – including at least 57 children. Traditionally, the flu season peaks around February.
In general, 43 states reported a high or very high flu activity last week. 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 at the height of other years, Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a doctor for pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
She said there is a lot of flu, but there is still a lot of RSV and a surprising number of babies with COVID-19.
“All breathing diseases are, with a revenge,” Murray added.
The CDC refused to let an associated press reporter speak with a flu expert from the agency about recent trends. The Trump administration ordered a temporary “break” about the communication of the health agencies and continued to refuse the interview requests that were routinely granted in the past.
American health officials recommend that everyone gets an annual flu vaccination 6 months and older.
About 44% of adults got flu shots this winter, the same as last winter. But coverage of children is way downWith around 45% this winter. It is usually around 50%, according to CDC data.
About 23% of American adults were up-to-date in their COVID-19 vaccinations from the end of January, an increase of approximately 20% at the same time of the previous year. Covid-19 vaccination rates for children were about the same, about 12%.
The government has not yet reported its estimates about how well the flu vaccine of this season works.
Patients’ test results indicate that two strains of seasonal flu cause most diseases – a type A H1N1 and a type A H3N2. Health officials look closely at the holes of a third tribe – a bird flu known as type A H5N1 – that has tens of millions of animals sick, but it is known that they have only infected 67 people in the US in the US
To prevent seasonal viruses, doctors say you have to prevent you from touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because germs can spread in this way. You also have to wash your hands with soap and water, often cleaned surfaces and close contact with people who are sick.
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