Breaking News: Current Influenza Outbreak

Worst Flu Outbreak in a Decade

It may seem as if people always exaggerate about the severity of the flu and the need to get flu shots. However, the 2018 flu season may be living up to the flu’s reputation, as this outbreak has been the most severe and drastic now than in recent years, with the CDC declaring it an “epidemic;” this is due to the dramatic increase of diagnoses and hospitalizations. (Ducharme) The 2018 strain has even gone so far as to claim the lives of thirty children. (Fedschun) This year, for the first time in the CDC’s monitoring of the flu, every state in the US has “widespread” prevalence of the virus. (Ducharme) The flu is even worse than usual this year because it has had the help of H3N2, a strain known for its targeting of the young and the old. It is also known for its low success rate in responding to vaccines, averaging at around only ten percent, while other strains usually average around thirty percent. Health care officials say that now about six percent of Americans are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, comparable to the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 seasons. (Fedschun) And as flu season peaks around December to February and ends around late May, these statistic are likely to increase. Doctors insist that the best way to protect yourself from the flu is the flu shot; contrary to popular belief, the shot does not give you the flu. In fact, eighty percent of people affected by the flu had not taken the shot. (Fedschun) The vaccination is recommended for anybody six months or older, so stay safe this flu season and get vaccinated!

Written By: Nayiri Artounians

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2018/01/21/flu-season-getting-worse-as-illness-has-lot-more-steam-than-expected.html

http://time.com/5108077/2018-flu-map/

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