FLU News

For the week ending February 2, 2008

widespread Influenza activity was reported across the nation.  It appears the Flu season, while late, is in full force.  31 states are reporting widespread Flu activity.  17 States are reporting regional activity.  A recent article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported several schools and business closed or on reduced schedules due to Flu activity.  "One of the worst years" they have experienced in years.

For the week ending February 29, 2008

The flu season has been of epidemic proprtions this year due in part to a different strain of influenza that was not included in this years vaccine recipe.  Reports of widespread influenza are common throughout the United States.  Analysts say the vaccine this year is approximately 40% effective.  Normally the vaccine recipe is 70 - 90% effective.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has put out a recommendation that all children ages 6 months to 18 years receive the annual flu vaccine.  (More to follow).

 Week ending March 24, 2008

Dr.  William Schaffner, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine recently said....."In my opinion the flu vaccine is doing its job this season.  It's performing reasonably well."

Week ending April 18, 2008

On April 17 the CDC reported that this "Flu season is the worst in years".  "This years flu season has shaped up to be the worst in 3 years....The CDC compares flu seasons by looking at adult deaths from the flu or pneumonia in 122 cities.  This year those deaths peaked at 9% of all reported deaths in early March and remained above an epidemic threshold for 13 consecutive weeks.  In 2003-04, they peaked at more than 10% of all deaths and surpassed the epidemic threshold for nine weeks.

Pediatric deaths are another way the flu seasons are compared.  This year, 66 children died, including 46 who were not vaccinated.  In 2004-04, 153 children died.

Week ending June 13, 2008

The CDC issued a report outlining death rates for certain diseases.  It was noteworthy that Influenza deaths dropped by 12% in 2007/2008 (flu season).  They attribute the drop to a "mild Flu season"