Health: Flu Season Takes Turn For The Worse
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The already brutal flu season has taken a turn for the worse in recent days, according to a new update issued Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That update says influenza is now widespread in 43 states, including all three states in the Philadelphia area. And with all the traveling and togetherness over the holidays, many doctors are expecting a spike now that people are back to work and school.
Hospital emergency rooms are filling up with people worried that they have the flu. Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency department physician, says, "It's concerning, because a lot of these patients are coming in and had been vaccinated."
Delaware is especially hard hit. There are 632 confirmed cases. This time last year, there were just 70 cases. Pennsylvania has over 10,000 people with the flu so far and 16 deaths. New Jersey doesn't track flu numbers.
The flu epidemic is blamed in part on this year's vaccine. Officials say it may be only about 30 percent effective because the main strain of influenza that's circulating, H3N2, is not a good match to the vaccine. Dr. Joseph Bresee, with the CDC, says, "In the average year, we see effectiveness of the vaccine at 50 to 70 percent, and so it might be a little lower this year. But even if it's lower, it still may provide some protection, which is especially important in people at high risk."
The H3N2 virus tends to cause more severe illness, especially in very young children and the elderly. Flu-related hospitalizations for the elderly are more than double what they were this time last year. Doctors say anyone at high risk for flu complications should get antiviral medication like Tamiflu, which can reduce duration and symptoms.
Six children died of the flu last week, raising the total number of childhood fatalities for this year's flu season to 21. The CDC report issued Monday covers the week of Christmas. New numbers are expected Tuesday from Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Officials say there are probably many more sick people. Not everyone with the flu has lab testing or even goes to the doctor.
Doctor says if you feel like you have the flu, stay home. You could easily infect others for 10 days while the virus runs its course.