Flu is widespread in 46 states, has killed 26 children: CDC
This year's vaccine isn't as effective against all strains, which is resulting in more cases and complications. But experts still recommend getting a flu shot, and it's not too late.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, January 9, 2015, 2:44 PM
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The flu keeps getting worse.
The virus is now widespread in 46 states and has killed 26 children, officials said Friday.
"This year is shaping up to be a bad one, particularly for people 65 and older," Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday.
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the disease, as are children younger than 5 and especially babies under 6 months, who are too young to be vaccinated.
Hospitalizations right now are 92 per every 100,000 people, whereas normal numbers are 52 per 100,000.
This year's flu vaccine isn't as protective against all strains of the virus as it could be, which has caused an uptick in cases recently.
The H3N2 viruses spreading this year have mutated from the H3N2 viruses that were used to make this year's flu shot, and it's too late to begin production on another vaccine. H3N2 is also a particularly virulent strain of the bug, causing almost twice as many hospitalizations and deaths as other types.
CHARLES KRUPA/APChildren younger than 5 are especially vulnerable to the flu. The virus has now killed 26 kids across the U.S.
But still, experts recommend getting the shot, since some protection is better than none. Since we are about halfway through flu season, it's not too late to get yours.
Friedan also acknowledged that the shot only works 60% to 65% of the time.
"Even in a good year, the flu vaccine is not as effective as our other vaccines," he said.
Anyone who comes down with the flu should take antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza to lower their risk of hospitalizations and death.
"They work, but they aren't being used nearly enough," Friedan said. He encouraged doctors to prescribe the drugs without waiting for lab results to confirm someone has the flu in order to hasten treatment.
