Flu Season Starting to Peak

FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay Information) -- Flu season is in full swing and it is beginning to appear to be a extreme one, U.S. well being officers mentioned Friday.

That is why they're urging that essentially the most weak -- the very younger, the aged, the chronically sick and pregnant girls -- get their photographs earlier than it is too late.

"We're nonetheless a couple of weeks from the height of flu season, after which there's the second half of season to go," mentioned Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. "I might be shocked if this was the height."

The distinguished pressure this time round is H3N2, which frequently indicators a extreme season that hits the oldest and youngest the toughest, she mentioned.

"Not all H3 years are extreme years, however plenty of the extreme years are H3 years," Brammer mentioned.

Influenza H1N1 and influenza B viruses are additionally circulating all through the nation, she added.

Though the peak of the flu season is approaching, it is not too late to get vaccinated. "It is not unusual to see a second wave of influenza B undergo after the wave of A," Brammer famous.

This 12 months's vaccine comprises all of the circulating viruses, she mentioned, however the vaccine could also be much less efficient in opposition to predominant H3N2 virus.

"We might all wish to have a greater vaccine, however vaccine continues to be one of the best ways to guard your self in opposition to flu," Brammer added.

If you happen to get vaccinated and nonetheless catch the flu, it might be milder than if you happen to weren't vaccinated, she defined.

If you happen to do get so sick with the flu that you simply're hospitalized, there are antiviral medicine that may assist.

Tamiflu and Relenza are efficient if taken early. That is significantly essential for high-risk people, such because the aged and folks with continual circumstances, similar to coronary heart and lung illness, in accordance with the CDC.

The heaviest flu exercise is alongside the east and west coasts, nevertheless it's additionally circulating within the middle of the nation. "Flu is in every single place," Brammer mentioned.

So get the shot quickly, as a result of it could possibly take a number of weeks to provide sufficient antibodies to provide you most safety, the CDC famous.