22 More Kids Died From the Flu Last Week, the CDC Says
Last week brought a dramatic uptick in pediatric flu deaths, with at least 22 more children dying from the virus between Feb. 4 and Feb. 10, according to the CDC.
That makes the week the deadliest yet for children this flu season, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths up to 84. Many of those children were otherwise healthy, according to the CDC.
The somber statistic fulfills predictions from CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat, who said on a call with reporters last week that record-breaking hospitalization rates at the time were likely an indicator of high death rates to come. “The people who are likely to...
Source: TIME: Health - February 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime onetime public health Source Type: news
Influenza A(H3N2) Viruses Predominate 2017 - 2018 Season
Vaccine effectiveness estimated at 25 percent against A(H3N2) (Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge)
Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge - February 16, 2018 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Infections, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Nursing, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Pulmonology, Journal, Source Type: news
The Flu Vaccine Is Working Better Than Expected, C.D.C. Finds
A preliminary analysis finds the vaccine 25 percent effective against this year ’ s dangerous H3N2 strain, and twice as effective in children. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - February 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Tags: Vaccination and Immunization Influenza Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Azar, Alex M II Source Type: news
Flu vaccine is only 25% effective against deadliest strain
Preliminary data released announced by top US health officials on Thursday shows this year's flu vaccine is only 25 percent effective against H3N2, the vicious strain killing most Americans. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - February 15, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Flu Vax Efficacy 25% Against Predominant H3N2 Strain So Far (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- Vaccine still effective at preventing deaths, experts say (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)
Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease - February 15, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
This Year ’s Flu Shot Only Worked a Third of the Time, CDC Says
Early estimates suggest the flu shot only worked about a third of the time this year.
Between Nov. 2 and Feb. 3, total vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 36%, according to a report released Thursday by the CDC. When broken down by strain, however, efficacy varied widely.
H3N2, the dominant strain circulating this flu season, is notoriously more virulent and less receptive to vaccination than other types of influenza. True to form, vaccine effectiveness against this strain was low this year — approximately 25%, according to the CDC report. (That’s actually better than experts originally feared, based on tren...
Source: TIME: Health - February 15, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime onetime public health Source Type: news
CDC Estimates This Year ’s Flu Vaccine Is Only 36 Percent Effective
Early estimates suggest the flu shot only worked about a third of the time this year.
Between Nov. 2 and Feb. 3, total vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 36%, according to a report released Thursday by the CDC. When broken down by strain, however, efficacy varied widely.
H3N2, the dominant strain circulating this flu season, is notoriously more virulent and less receptive to vaccination than other types of influenza. True to form, vaccine effectiveness against this strain was low this year — approximately 25%, according to the CDC report. (That’s actually better than experts originally feared, based on tren...
Source: TIME: Health - February 15, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime onetime public health Source Type: news
Update: Influenza Activity - United States, October 1, 2017-February 3, 2018
Influenza activity in the United States began to increase in early November 2017 and rose sharply from December through February 3, 2018. Influenza A viruses have been most commonly identified, with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating, but influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B viruses were also detected. (Source: PHPartners.org)
Source: PHPartners.org - February 15, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
This Year ’s Flu Is Now as Bad as the 2009 Swine Flu Epidemic, CDC Says
(NEW YORK) — The flu has further tightened its grip on the U.S. This season is now as bad as the swine flu epidemic nine years ago.
A government report out Friday shows 1 of every 13 visits to the doctor last week was for fever, cough and other symptoms of the flu. That ties the highest level seen in the U.S. during swine flu in 2009.
And it surpasses every winter flu season since 2003, when the government changed the way it measures flu.
“I wish that there were better news this week, but almost everything we’re looking at is bad news,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the Centers for Dise...
Source: TIME: Science - February 10, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Mike Stobbe / AP Tags: Uncategorized APH flu healthytime onetime Source Type: news
This Year ’s Flu Is Now as Bad as the 2009 Swine Flu Epidemic, CDC Says
(NEW YORK) — The flu has further tightened its grip on the U.S. This season is now as bad as the swine flu epidemic nine years ago.
A government report out Friday shows 1 of every 13 visits to the doctor last week was for fever, cough and other symptoms of the flu. That ties the highest level seen in the U.S. during swine flu in 2009.
And it surpasses every winter flu season since 2003, when the government changed the way it measures flu.
“I wish that there were better news this week, but almost everything we’re looking at is bad news,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the Centers for Dise...
Source: TIME: Health - February 10, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Mike Stobbe / AP Tags: Uncategorized APH flu healthytime onetime Source Type: news
10 More Kids Have Died This Flu Season — And We May Not Have Reached the Peak, CDC Says
The past week brought reports of 10 more pediatric deaths related to this year’s deadly flu season — and we may have yet to see the worst of it, according to CDC officials.
“I wish that there were better news this week, but almost everything we’re looking at is bad news,” CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said during a call with reporters Friday.
Forty-eight states, all but Oregon and Hawaii, are still reporting widespread flu activity, Schuchat said, and cases may continue to rise. “Flu is incredibly difficult to predict,” she said, “and we don’t know if we’v...
Source: TIME: Health - February 9, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized flu healthytime onetime Source Type: news
How Effective Is the 2018 Flu Shot? Here ’s What You Should Know
Vaccination has been recommended for decades as the best way to protect yourself against flu, but it’s no silver bullet. The shot’s effectiveness varies from year to year, depending on the closeness of the match between that season’s viruses and the vaccine, which is usually reformulated each year. This winter in North America, its performance has been especially poor, leaving people more vulnerable to a virus that’s caused a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. In Hong Kong, schools are starting their Chinese New Year holiday earlier amid a flu epidemic that has claimed more than 100 lives in the ...
Source: TIME: Science - February 7, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Jason Gale / Bloomberg Tags: Uncategorized Bloomberg health onetime Source Type: news
How Effective Is the 2018 Flu Shot? Here ’s What You Should Know
Vaccination has been recommended for decades as the best way to protect yourself against flu, but it’s no silver bullet. The shot’s effectiveness varies from year to year, depending on the closeness of the match between that season’s viruses and the vaccine, which is usually reformulated each year. This winter in North America, its performance has been especially poor, leaving people more vulnerable to a virus that’s caused a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. In Hong Kong, schools are starting their Chinese New Year holiday earlier amid a flu epidemic that has claimed more than 100 lives in the ...
Source: TIME: Health - February 7, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jason Gale / Bloomberg Tags: Uncategorized Bloomberg health onetime Source Type: news
Despite reports that this year ’ s flu vaccine shows diminished efficacy against the predominant H3N2 strain, a vaccine is still your best bet. As in past years, we ’ re seeing an increase in H1N1 relative to H3N2 as the season progresses; and vaccine efficacy against H1N1 is goodpic.twitter.com/SG8sq2tE77
Despite reports that this year’s flu vaccine shows diminished efficacy against the predominant H3N2 strain, a vaccine is still your best bet. As in past years, we’re seeing an increase in H1N1 relative to H3N2 as the season progresses; and vaccine efficacy against H1N1 is good pic.twitter.com/SG8sq2tE77 (Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew)
Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew - February 5, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: ( at SGottliebFDA) Source Type: news
While early indications are that flu vaccines may not be as effective against the H3N2 strain this year as previous flu seasons, the best protection still is to get vaccinated. It also protects against other strains circulating this year besides H3N2: http://go.usa.gov/xnAgz pic.twitter.com/mgakpQKoia
While early indications are that flu vaccines may not be as effective against the H3N2 strain this year as previous flu seasons, the best protection still is to get vaccinated. It also protects against other strains circulating this year besides H3N2: http://go.usa.gov/xnAgz pic.twitter.com/mgakpQKoia (Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew)
Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew - February 4, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: ( at SGottliebFDA) Source Type: news
