Flu Season, Shaping Up To Be a Severe One-- CDC [News Update] Jan. 2015

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The U.S. is yet to see worse scenarios in the flu season as the figures for people affected by the viral disease have steadily gone up, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

With 26 children killed and 46 states already affected by the disease, this year is "shaping up to be a bad one, particularly for people 65 and older," said Thomas Frieden, CDC director. He also said that the country has about six weeks to go about having the epidemic around as the flu season usually lasts about 13 weeks.

This year, the H3N2 flu strain has dominated the viral circulation and as such, more hospitalizations and deaths had been anticipated by the CDC and health centers. "H3N2 is a nastier flu virus than other flu viruses," according to Frieden.

Hospitalization rates have risen to 92 per 100,000 people, compared with an average of 52 hospitalizations per 100,000 in a year. "Hospitalization rates in the over-65 age group are rising," Frieden said.

This year's viruses wreaking havoc throughout the country are also said to be stronger and more resistant to the flu vaccine as H3N2 strain have mutated. This year's flu vaccine is said to protect only against 31.6 per cent of the H3N2 viruses. "Even in a good year, the flu vaccine is not as effective as our other vaccines," Frieden said.

Notwithstanding, the CDC is still recommending that people get vaccinated to get better protection, which is much better than having none at all. Vaccines could protect against three or four strains of flu. The CDC recommends flu shots for everyone over the age of 6 months.

The federal agency also urges patients and doctors to take antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza as these reduce risk of complications that lead to hospitalizations and deaths.

For additional protection, CDC is also encouraging the public especially those over 65 years old to get two different vaccines for pneumonia, given that flu increases the risk of pneumonia, especially among the elderly.