Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
The U.S. winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years. In early February, doctor visits for influenza symptoms and flu-related hospitalizations hit a 15-year high. The tough flu season is straining many hospitals, leading to overflowing emergency rooms, long wait times, and limits on patient visitors.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 29 million cases of influenza have been reported, leading to at least 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths. Speakers at the briefing discussed the alarming rise in cases of flu; tips for preventing and treating the illness; underlying environmental and health factors that make certain populations, including kids and elderly more vulnerable to flu-related pneumonia; and lower vaccination rates.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, Professor of Medicine and director of the immunocompromised host infectious diseases program, University of California, San Francisco said that one of the reasons for the serious flu season in the United States this year is the decline in the number of people receiving influenza vaccines. He said that the simple way to distinguish between the two is that if the symptoms are concentrated above the neck, including the nose and throat, it may be a cold; if the symptoms develop below the neck, such as muscle aches, it may be the flu.
Dr. Daniel Turner-Lloveras, Co-Founder and CEO, The Latino Health Innovation Alliance|SaludConTech, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine said that the flu affects children and the elderly the most, and people with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes should be most careful. 86 children have died from the flu this year. In February this year, the news that four teenagers in San Diego County died from influenza aroused widespread public attention. Turner said the flu vaccine usually lasts six months, but its effectiveness gradually decreases during that time. He said the best time to get vaccinated is September and October before the start of the flu season.
Dr. Benjamin Neuman, Professor of Biology and former chief Virologist at the Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University said he was very concerned because it meant there was no valuable data and research and no predictions for the next flu season. Even if the FDA decides to release this year’s flu vaccine without a meeting, it is a decision made without sufficient discussion.
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