Should You Get Flu Shot Now? What We Know About This Year's Dominant Virus
Summary
U.S. flu activity rose early, with hospitalizations, positive tests and emergency visits increasing. H1N1 accounted for nearly all influenza A samples reported, but officials say it is too early to know how severe the season will be; the CDC recommends annual vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.Key Facts
- The CDC counted 4,811 laboratory-confirmed flu hospital admissions nationwide during the week ending October 17.
- The hospitalization rate was the highest for this point in a flu season since 2010–11, according to the CDC surveillance network.
- Walgreens said its flu indicators were tracking about four weeks ahead of recent seasons.
- Of 241 influenza A samples analyzed by the CDC during the week ending October 17, 239 were H1N1.
- The CDC said the circulating H1N1 is not a newly emerged strain and descends from the virus behind the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
- The CDC had not detected the H3N2 subclade K, sometimes called “super flu,” in the samples described in the article.
- Louisiana and Hawaii reported moderate influenza-like illness activity; Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon and Washington reported low activity.
- The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older and says September and October are preferred vaccination months.
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