Influenza

December 30, 2017Read more...

Influenza Update Week Ending 12-30-2017

Week #52 (ending 12-30-17) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, including diagnosed flu as well as Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) sharply increased for this week. The dominating flu subtype continued to be A H3N2. This continued the trend of an early flu season with a typically more severe subtype of flu dominating and the possibility of increased complications. Although the highest risk for complications & hospitalizations is usually in those 65 years or older and in younger children, there...

December 23, 2017Read more...

Influenza Update Week Ending 12-23-2017

Earlier in this flu season, the CDC posted an expectation that this flu season (2017-18) would likely start early and be more severe (as it was last year) than previous few flu seasons. This prediction was made based on the severe flu season that Australia was experiencing and since Influenza A H3N2 was the predominant strain. Flu seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are often good predictors of North American flu seasons since there winter occurs during our summer. This...

March 16, 2016Read more...

Influenza Update: 2015-2016, Week Ending 2-27-16

Download the below information in PDF form Influenza 2015-2016 On Feb 1, 2016, the CDC published a notice that the Influenza (Flu) season had begun and that severe cases of flu had been reported. This time frame represents a more typical flu season than the past three years which have had an early onset and peak. This season (2015-16) showed a slow rise of cases through December and a much higher case rate beginning in Jan., with elevated numbers of cases still...

January 9, 2015Read more...

Early Indications from CDC Point to Bad Flu Season

Download PDF  Predictions and early indications from the CDC point to a bad influenza season. There are a couple of reasons why they are worried about this year being particularly challenging. The predominant strain circulating this year is Influenza A - H3N2, a strain that is not included in this year’s trivalent influenza vaccine. To learn what this means for EMS, download the PDF.

December 10, 2014Read more...

CDC Warning on Influenza

Download PDF  The CDC sent out a health advisory on December 3, 2014 regarding the potential for a poor match between the circulating influenza strain and the vaccine. The CDC states that flu activity is low right now, but expects it to begin increasing as the winter wears on. Influenza A (H3N2) is the predominant strain seen so far this flu season. To learn what this means for EMS, download the PDF.