Jan. Three, 2017 -- Coughing, aching, obtained a excessive fever and excessive fatigue? You would have the flu.
Shortly earlier than Christmas, labs throughout the nation began to see extra optimistic flu checks. That uptick is commonly the primary signal that flu season is underway.
"It positively seems like flu season is right here," says Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist who's in command of monitoring the flu on the CDC.
The pressure that's inflicting most flu infections up to now this yr is an "A" sort pressure referred to as H3N2. That's purpose for concern, specialists say.
"The dominant H3N2 A pressure is the variability that causes extra extreme illness, particularly amongst older individuals," says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious illness specialist at Vanderbilt College in Nashville.
Brammer agrees.
"A whole lot of the unhealthy years are H3 years. The aged and the very younger might have a more durable time this yr," she says.
The excellent news is that every one types of this yr's flu vaccine (together with each the Three-strain and Four-strain pictures) include H3N2, and so ought to present some safety.
The unhealthy information is that flu vaccines don't are inclined to work as nicely in opposition to this specific pressure, so you'll be able to nonetheless get it even when you've had your shot.
An evaluation of a number of research, revealed in 2016, discovered that even when the vaccine is an in depth match to the circulating H3N2 pressure, it solely cuts an individual's probabilities of getting sick by a median of 33%. The identical research discovered that flu vaccines are higher at defending in opposition to the "B" strains of the virus. When B strains are circulating, a flu vaccine can lower an individual's probabilities of getting sick by about 61%.
Imperfect as it's, the flu vaccine continues to be the most effective weapon to blunt a virus that may land you within the hospital. And despite the fact that it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to turn out to be totally efficient, you continue to have time to get it.
"What you hope is that despite the fact that it didn't stop the sickness, it'll stop extra extreme outcomes," like hospitalization and loss of life, Brammer says.
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The vaccine also can lower the probabilities that you just'll unfold the flu to extra weak folks, like infants and the aged.
"Run, don't stroll, to get your flu shot. Do it in your lunch break in the present day," Schaffner says.
Flu seasons often final for about 12 weeks, specialists estimate. However that may range so much, relying on the place an individual lives and what number of strains are circulating, Brammer says.
As of Dec. 24, flu exercise was excessive in 4 states -- Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, and Oklahoma -- in addition to Puerto Rico and New York Metropolis. 5 different states -- Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah -- are reporting average numbers of flu-like sicknesses, based on the CDC's weekly FluView report. On the company's map, the remainder of the nation has began to show from a wholesome inexperienced to a not-feeling-so-great yellow.
Although this yr's flu season continues to be in its early days, it has already delivered some surprises, together with the primary recognized case of a human catching the flu from a cat.
Does that imply you must quarantine your kitty? In all probability not. The one that was contaminated by a cat was a veterinarian who was caring for sick animals at a New York Metropolis animal shelter that had been laborious hit by an an infection of the newer H7N2 pressure -- a pressure that's additionally carried by birds. The affected person, who has not been recognized, had gentle signs and is now higher. It's solely the third time that individual pressure has been noticed in an individual within the U.S.
Greater than 160 workers of the animal shelter have been screened for a similar pressure. The shelter additionally contacted about 80% of the individuals who'd lately adopted pets there. Nobody else seems to have been contaminated, main well being officers to consider the chance to human well being is low.
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