"U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse. New government data posted Monday - for flu activity through the week of Christmas - showed that by some measures this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history."
"One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that's the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 90% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version - known as the subclade K variant - that differs from the strain in this year's flu shots. Flu seasons often don't peak until January or February, so it's too early to know how big a problem that mismatch will be."
U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays and are likely to worsen. Government data for the week of Christmas show activity surpassing last winter's severe epidemic by some measures. Forty-five states reported high or very high flu activity, up from 30 the week before. A H3N2 has been the most frequently reported virus this season. More than 90% of analyzed H3N2 infections are the subclade K variant, which differs from the strain in this season's flu shots. Flu seasons often peak in January or February, so the impact of the vaccine mismatch remains uncertain. Last season had record hospitalizations and 288 pediatric deaths; nine pediatric deaths have been reported so far this season, and pediatric emergency visits have already exceeded the prior season's highest mark. Recent steady increases without a decline suggest the peak may still be ahead.
Read at Fortune
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]