2019-2020 Flu Season on Track to Be Especially Severe, New CDC Data Suggests

The current flu season is on track be one of the worst in years, Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN. CNN reports that Fauci says the 2019-2020 flu season is on track to be as severe as the 2018-2017 season, which was the deadliest in at least a decade. New data from the CDC released on Friday estimates that so far this season, at least 6.4 million people have caught the flu, 55,000 people have been hospitalized and 2,900 people have died — 800 more people then were estimated the week before. According to the latest CDC in-season flu burden estimates, there were at least 6.4 million flu illnesses between Oct. 1 and Dec. 28. If you do get sick with flu, prescription antivirals can make your illness milder & may prevent serious flu complications: https://t.co/O0Dy8Fbjs2 pic.twitter.com/4arfhLojhU — CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 3, 2020 Twenty-seven of those deaths were children. CDC reports 5 more pediatric flu deaths, for a season total of 27 so far. Learn the warning signs of a severe flu virus infection in children, and seek immediate medical attention if your child shows any of these symptoms: https://t.co/Lu9Akn7mLw pic.twitter.com/upWxkILO61 — CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 4, 2020   Flu seasons the past few years have been particularly brutal. The 2017-2018 season was unusually severe and the deadliest in years, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The 2018-2019 season w...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Health Care onetime Source Type: news