The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination

The Best Defense Against Influenza Is Vaccination.
The 2013 flu age is living up to its accelerate billing as one of the worst in years. In Boston, where four flu-related deaths have been reported, Mayor Thomas Menino declared a country of exigency on Wednesday, and officials are working to set up manumit flu-vaccine initiatives. The megalopolis has already recorded 700 confirmed cases of flu, compared to 70 cases for all of go the distance year, according to Boston dab com tipbrandclub.com. At Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, PA, a tent has been set up best the pinch department because the medical center is struggling with a burgeoning number of flu cases, lehighvalleylive speck com reported.

And in Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital has recorded a 20 percent improve in flu patients every day, ABC News reported. The 2012-2013 flu condition got off to an pioneer start, and it's only getting worse as climax flu season nears. "As we moved into the end of December and January, undertaking 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 most recent CDC statistics, which runway through Dec 29, 2013 a add of 41 states were reporting widespread flu activity. There have been 18 flu-related deaths of children so far. The important crane so far this year is H3N2, Skinner said. "In years career when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we disposed to see more severe illness in young kids and the elderly," he added.

Flu mellow usually peaks in old January or early February, Skinner said, but by November the flu was already stony and widespread in some parts of the South and Southeast. An estimated 36000 proletariat 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 unhealthy of about 3000 to a outrageous of about 49000 people.

Dr Robert Glatter, an emergency drug physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said: "We have been conjunctio in view of an uptick in flu-related symptoms and influenza in the history two weeks - mainly since the end of Christmas. The patients with confirmed flu are older and have more beastly illness compared to keep on flu season. However, we are also seeing an increase in children presenting with flu-like symptoms as well".

Experts influence each flu mature is unique. "Why one year flu season gets off to an dawn start versus a late start is unknown," Skinner said. The best aegis is for everyone 6 months of period and older to get the flu vaccine. "It's not too late to get vaccinated," Skinner said. Ample vaccine was made available, but since it's former in the vaccination period it may be a little harder to find, he said.

Also encouraging is that the vaccine is a godly match for the strains of flu circulating now, Skinner said. Flu symptoms cover fever, cough, fatigue, apex and body aches, and runny nose. People at also persnickety risk for flu and its complications are expecting women, those 65 and older and anyone with a chronic illness medworldplus.com. The CDC urges these common people to get the flu vaccine, which is available as an injection or nasal sprinkle and in a stronger dose for seniors.