If you are getting the impression that the flu season is worse than usual this year, you’re right. The CDC, which tracks the number of people who seek treatment for the flu, confirms that the numbers are higher than last year in all regions of the country.
As we enter another influenza season, one question continues to vex medical and public health professionals: How do you stop people from catching the flu? The best way to prevent the flu is by getting an influenza vaccine every year. However, in the event of a large-scale influenza outbreak of a new virus strain or a pandemic, when influenza vaccine may not be promptly available, we will see tremendous demands on the health care system and its workers.
CDC recommends vaccination and antiviral treatment
January 11, 2013
Influenza activity continues to increase in the United States and most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness (ILI), according to CDC’s latest FluView report. “Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” according to Dr. Joe Bresee.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned that in order to conduct certain kinds of research into the H5N1 influenza virus, scientists could be creating newer and more dangerous forms of the virus that could ultimately pose a risk to public health.
