The weekly flu report from the CDC revealed on Friday that new 16 flu-related deaths in children were registered in the week ending in January 27th. These new flu-related deaths increase the total pediatric death toll to 58 this season. Unfortunately, the CDC’s predictions are still gloomy.
The CDC weekly report shows that the flu virus is still spread in 48 states (down from 49) and Puerto Rico. Also, the number of people suffering from influenza-like symptoms who asked for medical care increased by 0.6%, from 6.5% to 7.1%, as the laboratories confirmed more than 17,000 new cases.
The FDA reported that the antivirals are in short supply but still at acceptable levels nationwide. The same applies to the flu vaccines, as well. The FDA officials keep recommending Americans who didn’t take their flu shot to urge to local health care providers for taking the vaccines and treatments.
The influenza strain that’s now affecting the US is H3N2 also known as “Hong Kong flu”, one of the most complicated and resistant strains of the flu virus. H3N2 is the strain that causes the most complications and deaths among all the flu virus strains.
The strain’s resistance also caused this year’s flu vaccine to be only 10% efficient, according to the Canadian researchers. However, CDC officials said the flu shot available in the US is 39% efficient and people shouldn’t worry.
Moreover, the recent CDC report shows that, at this moment, the hospitalization rate is 51 in 100,000 people, which, in comparison to the corresponding report from the 2014-2015 flu season, is quite higher. If the same trend will be followed in the future weeks, the 2017-2018 flu season will be the worst flu season in the US since the aforementioned one, the 2014-2015 season.
As for the pediatric deaths statistics, the CDC is recording data since 2004. The pediatric flu-related deaths toll ranged between 37 and 171 each season. However, in 2009 have been registered more than 300 influenza-related deaths in children. The CDC is predicting that this flu season hasn’t reached its peak, yet, so more hospitalizations and deaths may occur.
