nivek
As Above So Below
Flu epidemic strikes EVERY state - except Hawaii - equally hard for the first time as officials warn of a bad season with two strains of the virus going around
The flu epidemic has struck the entire mainland US at the same time and in similar levels for the first time ever as health officials warn the season could get worse.
Influenza activity is now widespread in all states except Hawaii with the deadly virus already claiming the lives of more than 85 adults and 20 children this flu season.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that two strains of influenza viruses are being reported across the country, including H3N2 and H1N1.
'This is a bad flu season,' said Dr Dan Jernigan, the director of the CDC's influenza branch. Flu is everywhere in the US right now. There's lots of flu in lots of places.
'This is the first year we had the entire continental US be the same color on the graph meaning there's widespread activity in all of the continental US at this point.'
WHAT ARE THE FLU STRAINS HITTING THE US THIS YEAR?
There are many different types of flu circulating around the world, but four main types are being seen, or are set to emerge, in America this winter.
H3N2 - Dubbed 'Aussie flu' after it struck Australia hard last winter, this strain is more likely to affect the elderly, who do not respond well to the current vaccine. This is one of the most common strains seen so far this winter.
H1N1 - This strain – known as 'swine flu' - is generally more likely to hit children, who respond well to vaccination. This has been seen nearly as often as H3N2 so far this year. In the past it was only commonly caught from pigs, but that changed in 2009 when it started spreading rapidly among humans in a major global pandemic.
B / Yamagata - This is known as 'Japanese flu'. Only people who received the 'four strain' vaccine - which is being slowly rolled out after it was introduced for the first time this winter - are protected against the Yamagata strain. Those who received the normal 'three strain' vaccine are not protected.
B / Victoria - This strain is vaccinated against in the normal 'three strain' vaccine, but has hardly appeared so far this winter, with just four confirmed cases.
- Various influenza activity is now widespread in all US states except for Hawaii
- It has already claimed more than 85 adult and 20 children's lives this flu season
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported two strains of influenza viruses across the country, including H3N2 and H1N1
- Officials say it is the first time the entire mainland has been struck at the same time with similar flu levels
The flu epidemic has struck the entire mainland US at the same time and in similar levels for the first time ever as health officials warn the season could get worse.
Influenza activity is now widespread in all states except Hawaii with the deadly virus already claiming the lives of more than 85 adults and 20 children this flu season.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that two strains of influenza viruses are being reported across the country, including H3N2 and H1N1.
'This is a bad flu season,' said Dr Dan Jernigan, the director of the CDC's influenza branch. Flu is everywhere in the US right now. There's lots of flu in lots of places.
'This is the first year we had the entire continental US be the same color on the graph meaning there's widespread activity in all of the continental US at this point.'
WHAT ARE THE FLU STRAINS HITTING THE US THIS YEAR?
There are many different types of flu circulating around the world, but four main types are being seen, or are set to emerge, in America this winter.
H3N2 - Dubbed 'Aussie flu' after it struck Australia hard last winter, this strain is more likely to affect the elderly, who do not respond well to the current vaccine. This is one of the most common strains seen so far this winter.
H1N1 - This strain – known as 'swine flu' - is generally more likely to hit children, who respond well to vaccination. This has been seen nearly as often as H3N2 so far this year. In the past it was only commonly caught from pigs, but that changed in 2009 when it started spreading rapidly among humans in a major global pandemic.
B / Yamagata - This is known as 'Japanese flu'. Only people who received the 'four strain' vaccine - which is being slowly rolled out after it was introduced for the first time this winter - are protected against the Yamagata strain. Those who received the normal 'three strain' vaccine are not protected.
B / Victoria - This strain is vaccinated against in the normal 'three strain' vaccine, but has hardly appeared so far this winter, with just four confirmed cases.
it's something about this time of year, really. I just hope people with immune systems that are in a state of disrepair can get the medical help they may need. 
4SeNagot