Flu Season Just Beginning, but Could Ramp Up Quickly
She also said just three pediatric deaths have been reported to the CDC during this influenza season. This number differs significantly from the 122 pediatric deaths reported during the 2010-2011 influenza season.
“It is stunning to me the lack of childhood deaths this year,” said ACIP member Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD, professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Despite the good news, CDC officials warned that influenza morbidity and mortality could still peak.
“We could still have a virulent influenza season, but it may be getting a late start,” said Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH, deputy director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, the flu season this year is quite low in comparison to last year. To talk about some of the states, Tulsa County had the most hospitalizations due to flu illnesses, with nine and Oklahoma County had eight.
Meanwhile, Sequoyah County and McClain County had one each. Till now, there have been 35 flu cases across the country, which is less than last year. The CDC officials told that this time everything is happening opposite.
Some of the US states, which are known for icy winds and extreme cold weather, are having sunshine and places, which should have been warm, are witnessing blowing of icy winds. Even flowers are also blooming earlier this time and there is no major flu season.
Generally, flu season starts from December and continues till March, said CDC officials and they keep on witnessing influenza till May. Nothing of such sort is happening this time as the rate of flulike illness is lower than last year.
“We hope we will continue to have little flu activity, but we should continue to vaccinate, just in case,” said Joseph Bresee, MD, chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the CDC’s Influenza Division.
Moving from prevention to treatment, Tim Uyeki, MD, MPH, of the CDC’s Influenza Division, said 100% of the viral specimens tested since October have been sensitive to both oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche) and zanamivir (Relenza, GlaxoSmithKline), and patients should be treated as early as possible if influenza is suspected.
“Start treatment immediately,” Uyeki said. “Don’t wait for results of testing to begin treatment with these antivirals.”
Because of continued high levels of resistance to adamantanes among the circulating influenza viruses, amantadine and rimantadine should not be used, according to the CDC.
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– by Cassandra A. Richards