Flu spread is worse than ever: 53 children have died and hospitalization rate is STILL climbing despite outbreak easing in the West, CDC reveals
The CDC reported today that 16 more children have died from the flu this season, bringing the death toll up to 53
Hospital visits have skyrocketed in the US and are the highest on record
Dr Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC’s Influenza Division, said on Friday that
Oregon reported regional flu activity this week, bringing the number of states where the virus is widespread down to 48
Canadian researchers revealed on Thursday that the flu vaccine is less than 20 percent effective while it was originally thought to be 34 percent effective
By KAYLA BRANTLEY
DAILYMAIL.COM
2 February 2018
Sixteen more children have died of the flu this week, bringing the total to 53 and the rate of hospitalizations are the highest ever recorded, according to the CDC.
Speaking on Friday, acting CDC director Dr Anne Schuchat said that this year’s flu is the worst since the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic.
Hospitals across the US are experiencing up to a 40 percent increase of flu patients, surpassing the rate of the 2014 season which was the worst on record.
On Friday, Dr Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC’s Influenza Division, pointed to California as one of the hardest-hit states with hospitalizations four times higher than the 2014 season and said this year is expected to be the worst flu season in recent history.
However, Oregon reported less flu activity this week which Dr Jernigan said could represent a trend of decreasing activity.
This report comes as new research from Canada revealed this week that the vaccine is less than 20 percent effective against the dominant H3N2 strain – 14 percent less effective than what was originally thought.
CDC officials said ‘we’re not out of the woods yet’ and continue to urge everyone to get their flu shot as the B viruses and H1N1 strain are infecting patients with several more weeks of flu season to go.
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