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CDC: Flu Season a Bad One

Already there have been 26 confirmed pediatric deaths and flu is widespread in almost “the entire country."

Map of flu in the United States
Map of flu in the United States as of Dec. 20, 2014.
(Tribune News Service 2014)
(TNS) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this year’s flu season is shaping up to be a bad one.

Already there have been 26 confirmed pediatric deaths and flu is widespread in almost “the entire country,” CDC director Tom Frieden said on a conference call with reporters Friday morning.

The number of hospitalizations among adults aged 65 and older is also up sharply, rising from a rate of 52 per 100,000 last week to 92 per 100,000 this week, Frieden said.

And there’s still more possible hospitalizations and deaths to come. The nation is about seven weeks into this year’s flu season and seasons typically last about 13 weeks, Frieden said.

“But flu season is unpredictable,” he said, adding it could last longer than 13 weeks.

The influenza A (H3N2) strain is predominant this season, Frieden said, adding that it is a “nastier strain,” which results in a more severe season with more hospitalizations and deaths.

During the 2012-2013 season, when influenza A (H3N2) was also predominate, hospitalizations among seniors reached a rate of 183 per 100,000 people, and Frieden said the country could see similar numbers this year.

Cedar Rapids hospitals reported an increase in hospitalization and emergency department visits due to the flu last week. And the Iowa Department of Public Health said that 167 people had been hospitalized last week.

Complicating matters is the fact that about two-thirds of flu cases appear to be a drifted H3N2 strain that the vaccine does not protect against. The CDC does not yet have estimates on how effective this year’s vaccine is, but Frieden said, on average the vaccine is 60 to 65 percent effective and this year it could be “significantly lower.”

Even still, the CDC recommends flu shots for everyone 6 months of age and older. It is especially important for young children, people 65 and older and pregnant women. Manufacturers have made and distributed about 145 million doses, which the CDC said is a sufficient supply.

For those who do get the flu, anti-viral medications including Tamiflu are an important second line of defense to treat the illness. Anti-viral medications can make flu illness shorter and reduce the risk of ending up in the hospital or dying from influenza, the CDC said.

Frieden said there is also a sufficient supply of Tamiflu, though there may be spot shortages or delays in different areas of the country.

“That just means you may have to call around,” he said.

Pharmacies at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital, Hy-Vee Inc. and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics all reported this week to have no issues with supply of Tamiflu.

©2015 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.