How does the 20182019 flu season compare to last years. Has cornavirus been here since last year justin hart. The first reported casualty of the 2018 19 season occurred in early october when an unvaccinated child in florida died of the flu. For the 2018 2019 flu season, acip recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, ageappropriate flu vaccine iiv, riv4, or laiv4 with no preference expressed for any one vaccine over another. Over 80,000 americans died of flu last winter, highest.
The incidence of influenza infection typically begins to increase in october and peaks in the winter months of december, january, or february. Three times more people dying from flu in uk than last. Despite the early start, scientists are expecting a relatively mild flu season based on recent data from the southern hemisphere. At least 14,000 people have died and 250,000 have already been hospitalized during the 20192020 flu season, according to estimates from the u. The 20182019 influenza season was moderately severe, with activity beginning to increase in. The previous high for a regular flu season, based on. Everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine each year.
During the 2018 2019 flu season, there were 17,210 cases of the flu in wisconsin. The blue line in the graph shows flu related calls to the helpline for the current year, in proportion to all calls. Flu season in the united states kicked off early this year. A lthough there is still much we dont know about the coronavirus, we know enough to say that it is far more dangerous and deadly than the flu. The 20172018 influenza season in the united states was one of the. Flu vaccination has been shown to prevent flu illnesses, doctors visits and hospitalizations and can be lifesaving in children 2018 2019 u. For comparison, 36,560 people died in car accidents in 2018 in the united states. Flu season is the time of year when you are most likely to get sick from the flu. Nationally, influenzalike illness ili activity began increasing in november, peaked during midfebruary, and returned to below baseline in midapril.
The cdc recommends getting a flu shot by the end of october, before the 2018 2019 flu season begins. In the southern hemisphere, the flu season runs from may until september. The 2017 2018 flu season was one of the deadliest in decades according to the cdc. This years flu season is shaping up to be possibly less severe than the 2017 2018 season, when 61,000 deaths were linked to the virus. Flu in wisconsin the flu is an illness caused by the influenza virus.
Flu season thats sickened 26 million may be at its peak. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of. Information on how these estimates are calculated can be found on cdcs web page how cdc estimates the burden of seasonal influenza in the u. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically. The grey shaded area in the graph shows the range of flu related calls between 20 and 2018. Frequently asked flu questions 20182019 influenza season cdc. Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, cdc says cnn. The best time to get the flu shot is earlier than you. Generally, the dates of flu season in the united states run from october to may, with a peak between december and february. Cdc monitors and analyzes key flu activity indicators. December 21, 2018 increases in flu activity summarized in cdcs most recent fluview report, including increases in influenzalikeillness and the proportion of laboratoryconfirmed flu cases nationally, have signaled the start of the 2018 2019 influenza season. Coronavirus kills more americans in one month than the flu. The cdc recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get the yearly flu.
In the united states, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter months. It took twelve months and 61 million infections for the h1n1 swine flu to kill 12,500 americans in 200910. A severe variant of the influenza virus has produced a powerful start to the 2018 flu season. Here is a breakdown of the peak months of flu activity over a 34year period between. Cdc officials called the 80,000 figure preliminary, and it may be slightly revised. For weekly case count updates, please see the weekly respiratory virus surveillance report, p02346 pdf. Experts urge everyone 6 months of age and older get the flu shot, as it. Germwatch is a tool used to track germs and helps doctors.
While the flu season typically starts in early fall and peaks in the winter months, the 20182019 influenza season lasted 21 weeks. As youve probably heard, this years particularly rough flu season is thought to be due to the fact that the 2018 flu shot is not all that effective against this years dominant strain of. The flu infects millions of people every year and kills thousands during the 2018 19 flu season, about 35 million people in the us contracted the flu and about 34,000 died, according to the cdc. During the spring months of marchmay, influenza b virus became dominant. The 2017 2018 united states flu season lasted from late 2017 through early 2018. Seasonal flu epidemics occur yearly during the colder months. However, it could equal or surpass the 2018 2019 season. The figure below shows peak flu activity in the united states by month for the 19821983 through 20172018 flu seasons. I am wondering how many of those people actually died of the flu.
A patient receives a flu shot at a walkin health clinic which administers flu shots on january 10, 20, in new york city. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza flu. Youre only human if it has you wondering, when does flu season end already and since 2018 seems to be the year of the flu, its only fitting if youre worried that it. Find information on coronavirus disease 2019 covid19. The peak month of flu activity is the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection during that influenza season. It further recommended that all persons over age 6 months get the vaccine. An estimated 80,000 americans died of flu and its complications last winter. In general, flu season can start anytime in late fall, peak in midtolate winter usually january or february, and continue through early spring.
For years and years, the cdc kept repeating the same mantra of 36,000 people dying of the flu every yearwhich wasnt a real number at all. This will be the final weekly report of the 2018 2019 influenza season. If the blue line is above the grey area, then this may indicate an increased risk of colds and flu in the community. Past seasons estimated influenza disease burden cdc. Most flu seasons start off with lots of infections from influenza a viruses, which can be more severe and less responsive to vaccination than other. Although the yearly impact of influenza varies, it affects the health of new yorkers each season. In addition, a seventh flu related pediatric death was reported this week. Information on how these estimates are calculated can be found on. Flu broke records for deaths, illnesses in 20172018, new. More than 80,000 americans died of the flu in the winter of 2017 2018, the highest number in over a decade, federal health officials said last week.
In the 201617 season, there were an estimated 29 million flu cases in the united states. Influenza flu wisconsin department of health services. While flu season always occurs during the colder months, its hit a. Timing of flu season varies in different parts of the world and from season to season. The figure below shows peak flu activity in the united states by month for the 19821983 through 2017 2018 flu seasons. Us coronavirus death rates compared to the seasonal flu. Influenza, often referred to as flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu goes around every year, with some years being worse than others. Frequently asked flu questions 20182019 influenza season. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere. February was the peak month for flu activity in 14 of the 34 flu seasons, making it the.
T he 2018 2019 flu season may not have been as severe as the one that came before it, but it set a record of its own, the centers for disease control and prevention cdc say. In all states except hawaii and oregon, the distribution of influenza was indicated as widespread, including 32 states that had high flu activity. Influenza surveillance across the country nationally shows a significant increase yoy from the 2018 2019 season and seems to be challenging the severe 2017 2018 season. Influenza seasonal reports utah department of health. In what was considered the worst season in years, the flu and flu related pneumonia killed nearly 10,000 texans in 2017 2018, according to a new state report. In order to have flu shots ready for flu season, experts have to decide, months in advance, which strains to include in the vaccine. Estimated influenza disease burden, by season united states, 201011 through 2018 19 influenza seasons. Flu season typically falls sometime between the start of fall and the end of spring. Flu season generally spans the colder months because cold. Learn when you can expect cold and flu season to start so youre sure to get you and your loved ones a flu shot to stay protected. Last years flu season death toll and 201819 flu coverage. It will usually end by april, but in some years it can linger into may. While the beginning of major flu activity in each season varies by location, in any. During the 2017 2018 season, influenzalikeillness ili activity began to increase in november, reaching an extended period of high activity during january and february nationally, and remained elevated through the end of march.
For the past three decades, flu activity has peaked at some point between the months of october and february but always tapers off by april. According to the cdc, this years flu season is particularly bad, resulting in deaths. The rcgp said that, based on its analysis of flu data from surgeries, the rate of people visiting a gp with flu rose in the south of england last week from 54. Nationally, the severity of the 2018 2019 season was categorized as moderate. Flu season will last several more months and could even stretch into may. The centers for disease control estimated that the seasonal flu killed 34,200 americans during the 2018 19 flu season. Its recommended that those over the age of six months get the flu shot. Visit germ watch for more information on the types of diseases or infections that may be circulating in utah. Even if this years vaccine isnt a good match for h3n2, it offers better protection against other flu. Control and prevention, summary of the 20172018 influenza season. The 2017 2018 flu season was the deadliest in years, resulting in a recordbreaking number of hospitalizations and at least 80,000 deaths, the centers for disease control said in september. August 26, 2018 to september 8, 2018 weeks 3536 weekly reports 2017 2018 season.
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