Flu experts agree that the 2017-18 flu season may not be a full-blown pandemic, but it sure is nasty.
The flu is widespread across 48 US states right now. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say doctors have been seeing as many patients as they did at the height of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.
The epidemic this season is not at pandemic levels, but it has been especially tough on baby boomers. CDC officials say that could be in part because they weren’t exposed to this year’s most aggressive H3N2 strain as children.
It’s nearly impossible to predict how this flu season will end, as flu viruses don’t follow predictable models from year to year.
Still, there are a few simple things to do to stay healthy and safe. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s been a season of horror stories about the deadly flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called this the worst season since the 2009 swine flu.
Eighty-four children across the country have died from the flu this year, and experts think the real number could be double the total in official reports.
In California, at least 185 people under the age of 65 have died. As of early January, most of those deaths were unvaccinated adults, the state’s Department of Health told Business Insider.
Flu shots are less effective this year than they’ve been in the past, but the vaccine can still help.
It’s true that the flu vaccine is not as effective this year, largely because it doesn’t protect as well against the H3N2 strain, which is everywhere. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday said the vaccine is about 36% effective this year, and only 25% effective at combatting H3N2.
It’s still a good idea to get vaccinated if you haven’t, though, because the shot is more effective at preventing other strains of the virus, such as the influenza B strains. In addition to lowering the likelihood that you’ll contract the flu, the vaccine can reduce the intensity of your illness if you do catch it. Flu season can last into May, so if you haven’t gotten your dose yet, it’s not too late.
A 2017 study found that a flu shot could significantly reduce a child’s likelihood of dying from the virus.
Pregnant women are especially encouraged to get flu shots because they’re more likely to be hit hard by the virus. And there’s some evidence that if a pregnant mom gets the shot, that can protect babies in their first months of life, when they’re too young to get the vaccine.
It’s been deadly, but this season is not a pandemic.
Flu viruses can shift rapidly, making them harder to vaccinate against and tough to predict from year to year. That’s part of the reason drug makers have struggled to come up with a “universal” vaccine for the flu that would protect you for life.
What counts as an “epidemic” changes a little from season to season — and even week to week — but the CDC’s latest numbers indicate we’ve reached epidemic levels, meaning the flu is spreading quickly and leading to more fatal cases than usually expected. In the final week of January, 10% of all deaths across the country were attributed to flu and pneumonia, well above that week’s epidemic threshold of 7.3%.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: This year’s deadly flu season is reaching its peak — here’s how to tell if you’re contagious
