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Flu Near You
A vast swath of red across the U.S. indicates a high level of flu activity.
The nation’s early flu season continued to grow in the U.S. this week, with no sign yet of a peak in the spread of coughing, achy, feverish illness, health officials said Friday.
"I think we're still accelerating," said Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman.
Twenty-nine states and New York City reported high levels of flu activity, up from 16 states and NYC the previous week. Flu was widespread in 41 states, up from 31 states, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of the week ending Dec. 29, 2,257 people had been hospitalized with flu, and 18 children had died from complications of the illness, CDC reported.
“It’s about five weeks ahead of the average flu season,” said Lyn Finelli, lead of the surveillance and response team that monitors influenza for the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “We haven’t seen such an early season since 2003 to 2004.”
That’s the year that Joe Lastinger’s 3-year-old daughter, Emily, fell ill with the flu in late January and died five days later.
“That was the first really bad season for children in a while,” said Lastinger, 40, who lives near Dallas, Texas. “For whatever reason that’s not well understood, it affected her and it killed her.”
During that season, illnesses peaked in early to mid-December, followed by a peak in flu-related pneumonia and deaths in early January. It was over by mid-February and was considered a “moderately severe” season for flu, according to the CDC. Finelli and other CDC officials say it’s too early to tell exactly how bad this year’s season will be.
But over at Google Flu Trends, which monitors flu activity in the U.S. and around the world based on internet search terms, this year’s season has already topped the bright-red “intense” category.
And at Flu Near You, a new real-time tracking tool that’s gaining about 100 participants each week, about 4 percent of the 10,000 users say they’ve come down with flu symptoms.
Joe Lastinger's 3-year-old daughter, Emily, fell ill with the flu in late January 2004 and died five days later.
“That’s huge,” says John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston. “Last year, we never got near this.”
Brownstein is one of the founders of the project coordinated by Children’s Hospital Boston, the Skoll Global Threats Fund and the American Public Health Association. Though it’s still in its early stages, it already has generated new, interesting and, most of all, immediate data about this year’s flu season.
“It’s what we call ‘nowcasting,’” Brownstein said. “It’s a more up-to-date view.”
CDC data, which is based on visits to doctors for influenza-like illness, can lag two weeks or more behind real-time activity.
By contrast, Flu Near You can paint an immediate picture of what’s new with flu.
For instance, Brownstein said his data show that cough is the most frequently reported flu symptom this season, at 19 percent. It’s been followed by sore throat, 16 percent; fatigue, 15 percent; headache, 14 percent; body ache, 10 percent and fever, just 7 percent.
More telling, for people who reported both flu symptoms and vaccination status, of those who got the flu, three out of four were not vaccinated, while a quarter had gotten their flu shots.
Brownstein cautioned that can’t be used as a true measure of this season’s vaccine efficacy because of variables in reporting. But the CDC says that in the 2010-2011 flu season, vaccine effectiveness was about 60 percent for all age groups combined.
The agency has received reports that people who were vaccinated still developed laboratory-confirmed strains of flu. CDC officials said it’s not possible to know whether that’s happening more this season than usual and that the agency is “watching the situation closely.”
Overall, this year’s vaccines appear to be well matched for the two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B that are circulating this year, CDC officials have said.
The dominant strain this year is the H3N2 strain, which can cause more serious illness. Flu seasons can vary widely, but some years are severe, with hospitalizations of up to 200,000 people and between 3,000 and 49,000 deaths during a season.
As of December 14, the latest CDC figures available, about 127 million doses of flu vaccine had been distributed, from about 135 million doses produced for this season.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu season is here early in all 50 states, and it could be very serious. Dr. Nancy Snyderman explains the spike and says it is still not too late to get a flu shot.
Joe Lastinger was one of the first to sign up for the Flu Near You tracking program after its test phase. The health care executive and father of three surviving children said it gives participants information they can act on about flu in their communities.
“I’m always excited about getting ahead of it,” he said. “This is a tool you can use. If everybody starts reporting these symptoms, you’re ahead.”
Information about vaccination is particularly important, said Lastinger. Flu vaccinations weren’t routinely recommended for healthy children Emily’s age back then, and Lastinger and his wife weren’t worried about it.
“For us, vaccination was the thing we should have done, had we known,” he said. “Flu needed to be up there on our parent radar of things to worry about. We think it should be on every parent’s list.”
Related stories:
- More evidence of a nasty flu season ahead
- Flu season could be a bad one, health officials say
- Flu shots still a hard sell, health experts find
Leave a Comment:
Why do people get so pissed off at pharmaceutical companies? It takes A LOT of people, resources and research to develop, test and distribute a medication/vaccine. 9 times out of 10 those medication/vaccines will not make it to distribution. So the company banks on that one medication and yes, they charge for it. Do you expect scientists to work for free? It's not like a magical pill fairy comes down and gives the formula for medication/vaccines. Should all medication/vaccines be free? Who will pay for the testing? The scientists? The facilities? Vaccinations have the lowest profit margin for pharmaceutical companies. It costs me diddly squat to get a vaccine, once a year? Not really a big money maker considering the work force, facilities and research it takes to develop and the distribute one. Some people need meds/vaccines to survive, but no one is making you get one. You have the right to simply get sick and die.
If you want to see a great show on vaccines and the push to not do them, I encourage you to watch Penn and Tellers Bull@!$%# episode on vaccines. Very eye opening.
SANEVAX.com
and google VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION FUND..
meds and drugs and vax dont heal that hurt..
dummy
There are different strains of the flu. My wife, a Nurse in a major Boston Hospital. She was obligated, as all Nurses are, to get the flu vaccination as they do every year for the safety of the patients. She and another woman I know, also vacinnated, still got a flu. Granted, a milder form, but still a flu. They (CDC) can only predict which flu will be most common, and vaccinate for that strain. So, the shot will not prevent all from getting the flu, but is absolutely the best defense available.
Also, anyone in the medical field will attest, there are some adverse reactions to "some" flu shots. but they are rare, and usually mild reactions like swelling at the injection site, or mild headachs and such. Very Very rarely, worse.
But anti-vaccine crazies want you to believer otherwise.
That true rex. But even the anti-vaccine folks aren't crazy, just sometimes misinformed. A friend of my 26 year old son, had a baby boy, and swore he would never vaccinate or inoculate the child. Even at the direction of the childs Pediatrician. Once he found that the child would not be allowed to enroll in the daycare they picked, unless (for the safety of the other children) he got the basic infant inoculations. Nobody wants thier child to be exposed to Pertussin, Mumps, Measles, Chicken Pox, and a whole host of other, sometimes deadly, diseases, because of one parents decision.
So, bottom line, don't vaccinate your child, and plan on home schooling.. The needs of many, outweigh the comforts of a few. Thats the way it is in a Democracy. Do what you want, but don't hurt me!
You child can attend any public/charter school available to them without vaccines regardless of the state you are in. The reason you are opting out varies state-by-state. Daycares as well. UNLESS they are a private school or private daycare example: At home daycare.
Also, if these vaccines work as you say they do and one child (un-vaccinated) attends daycare with your vaccinated child, why would you worry about them getting sick or picking up a disease if your vaccines work so well?
Kelsey, all states maybe are different. When my son (now 26) was enrolled into public school back in 1990, we as parents had to provide all of his early childhood inoculation documents to be admitted. Maybe your state is different than Massachsusetts, but even 22+ years ago, they wanted the documents for him to start school. My son also served six years in the US Army, and they, now were talikig US Government, needed all of his innoculation documents, and anything he lacked, they gave him, including Anthrax innoculation before he went to Iraq. So, you may be a little misinformed about manditory vaccines..
If the laws have changed since, I am unaware of that. But The child I wrote of above, was entering a popular franchise daycare north of Boston, privately owned, and he would not have been allowed without the documents.
If it is privately owned then yes, they can turn you away. However, now every state does have papers you sign for opting out, whether it be because of religious reasons, personal reasons, or spiritual reasons, that all depends on the state. Some have all some have less. If you ask for these documents from schools etc they usually will tell you they dont have them and the shots are mandatory, but if you are at a public place, they are not mandatory. You can print them offline if they refuse to provide them to you (some people may just not know they are available).
Got my flu shot after almost dying 12 years ago from complications of the flue. What I don't understand is that my insurance doesn't cover the shot, and why isn't it given free at schools (with Parental permission). Seems that it would make sense and save tax money since we the workers are paying for all of the freebie health care now anyway. A free shot offered to EVERYONE, not just the welfare might make a differance. There are enough parents that don't understand that it is important, and they might just do it, if they didn't have to get out of the chair to take their kids in and just had to sign a permission slip. Seems to be rather a no brainer to me.
A free shot and then a 'mandatory shot'. Nothing is free. We all pay for anything the government does and it is best to keep them out of our lives as much as we can. Flu shot are 'hit and miss' shots conjured up in four months time on someone's 'best guess'. Not all flu-like infections are actually due to Flu A or B. It is something like 7% of the 10% of flu that actually are the kind that vaccines are made against. Many of the folks in my location who have the flu are the ones who received the flu shot. There are too many harmful chemicals introduced into your body on receipt of that shot, like aluminum and mercury. Do I want my nerve cells demyelinated or get Alzheimers? No Thanks! If you receive even five flu shots in a ten year time frame, you are 10% more likely to develop Alzheimers. I had the flu once; in 1981. It lasted about 10 days, but I'll live with it if I ever contract it again. It the meantime, WASH YOUR HANDS!!
My Insurance does cover flu shots and no it is not the Government. I guess some insurance companys believe a flu shot is cheaper than a hospital stay.
plainy- actually, they offered free ones at my sons' school. I went ahead and had him vaccinated at his yearly appointment, as usual (he's a november baby). My workplace also has a free vaccination day- they bring in the medical people and we get it done in the break room.
I have not not had a flu shot in almost 30 years, consequently I have not had the flu in 30 years.
I believe you have to build up your immunity.
I am not anti-drug, but when it comes to the flu, not a flu-shot fan.
Other question about people and flu shots, the people that did not get them..are they normally getting them year-to-year and just missed getting one? Then you have a problem.
We have gotten too good at preventing premature death with all kinds of things. We need a natural predator. I say don't get your flu shot. Imagine if those 30,000 deaths a year were prevented, that's an additional 30K bodies to house, clothe, feed, health care expenses, etc.
not 30,000 deaths...that is the media spitting that out...
last year was like 1100
I work in the health care field. It seems that many of the flu cases appearing are in people who have
been vaccinated.
Whatever Cindy...let me see your statistical charts?...like Jesus...noone knows for a fact...but heresay is all we a have...show me some stats girlfriend!!!...my friends are fine I'm fine...we all had the flu shot...then again I could be lying!!!
that is exactly correct
From the above article...
More telling, for people who reported both flu symptoms and vaccination status, three-quarters of those who were not vaccinated got sick, compared with 25 percent who got their flu shots"
Go ahead and deceive yourselves if it makes you feel better. I will not allow dead animal tissues, formaldehyde (embalming fluid), aluminum (Alzheimers) or mercury (poisoning) to be injected into my body. The choice is yours, but don't make me take your poison too. Take the garbage into your blood stream, demyelinate your nerves, but leave mine alone and WASH YOUR HANDS; the biggest flu fighter out there.
to Rex-1306908:
What it does not say is that of the 3/4 that did not get vaccinated (were they typically vaccinated from year to year?) If they were and missed getting it then that is another stat that needs to be addressed.
It does not say the people who were not vaccinated (never get vaccinated).
Cindy, you probably do not work in health care in my state, Massachusetts. Because if you do, and you have direct patient contact, you are obligated to get the vaccination (but not mandated)
If you choose not to, thats fine, but you will wear a surgical mask at all times to protect the patients for the duration of the flu season. Most likely a few months.. Thats the rule. Mask up, or get the shot, or leave the job.. quit.
There is always a choice.
Not everyone broadcasts their flu on google or facebook, and most otherwise healthy adults actually just rest it out a few days and not go to the doctor because its not life threatening.
WOW...a new virus...the Flu...noone should ever get sick...we live in a bubble world...LMAO!!!
In regards to bad reactions to a flu vaccination, the worse symptoms reported, are those of people who are more unhealthy overall anyways. Most "healthy" people will not have any reaction at all, except maybe swelling and soreness at the injection site. The folks who are obese, smoke, drink heavily, take drugs, ect. and are generally unhealthy and out of shape, and those folks do risk having a more adverse reaction.
Bottom line, sick people, can get sicker.. but will definitely get sicker if they do get the flu...
You people are really dumb. Sorry truth hurts. # 1 Flu shots dont protect you, they weaken the immune system. The neurological damage from the adjuvants can cross the blood brain barrier.
If you get sick this time of year, it means you have a weak immune system. Lack of Vit D, lack of exercise, poor diet with too much sugar and processed foods. YOU HAVE AN IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Go to naturalnews.com and MERCOLA.com
I am doctor and we do not give FLU shots..
You are injecting mercury and more dangerous aluminum directly into the bloodstream.
9 out 10 who get the shot get sick...from the junk..
really need to wake up...or you can be a typical american....and live on meds, cholesterol drugs and eat like crap and wonder why you are sick...
my new website is coming: STOPVAX.com
"I am doctor"
In Botswana. LOL.
sure....call my office smart ass
You sound like a paid shill Shep and have no idea of what you are talking about. You're obviously not a doctor, not a real one anyway.
Just went to your website. Has a pretty picture of a bridge but that's it.
Fraud.
I would have called your office had it been up on your called website, but there's nothing on there but a very pretty picture of a bridge.
RackNStack, he said his website is NEW and it is COMING. In other words NOT YET COMPLETE. Reading comprehension obviously is not in your list of talents.
Well he said call his office. I presume that since he advertised his website that there was a phone number on there. How else would I get his phone number?
For those saying they got sick from the flu shot: that's pure B.S. For those saying they don't need it: maybe true, especially if you don't come into contact with a lot of people. But that's rare: grocery shopping, working in crowded places, etc. I didn't think I needed the shot when I started teaching. I got the flu the first two years. I got the flu shot or shots every year since: no more flu and I retired with 175 unused sick days.
I AM A DOCTOR and I SEE SICK PEOPLE DAILY...I NEVER GET A SHOT..
I also get vaccinated against PINK ELEPHANT ATTACKS...must work.....no attacks yet..
IGNORANT
I get vaccinated against reading comments in all caps, hasn't worked either.
Sorry, you sound like a quack Ducky! Naturopaths are not doctors, neither are chiropractors.
Scientific fact. You CANNOT get influenza from a flu shot. The vaccination is the not the killed virus (flumist is, but injectable is not). Saying you get the flu from the flu shot is like saying the sun revolves around the eart. IT is indisputable fact.
No wonder we have the idiots we have in Washington. You people are daft.
Most flu deaths are actually pneumonia deaths, caught by people weakened by the flu. So I highly recommend the bacterial pneumonia shot. You get two of them, 5 years apart, and you're good for life with 100% protection from bacteria known to cause pneumonia deaths. There's also viral pneumonia, but it's not as common.
All you that take the flu shots are a lot more trusting than me. I never take them, because of not trusting either the medical profession or the US government,,especially the FDA and the AMA, just follow the m oney trail for the truth. The medical profession is nothing more than a racket to make money, big money for a few. And this is one way they suceed is by scaring the hell out of people with one report after another. The USA is pumping themselves full of all different kind of God knows what and we as a people are less healthy today than ever. Don't believe me, just go to Walmart sometime and just watch the neverending procession of invalids, obese, oxygen breathing, hairless, legless, armless, on crutches, or scooters, limpers, and all the other geeks walking down the aisles.
Sorry we're not as perfect as you Randall, how can you bear to go out amongst the great unwashed masses. What a wonderful attitude to have about other average humans, or geeks to you.
I hope for you that you never really get sick and in need of excellent medical care.
interesting concept. Do they not give the flu vaccines in other countries, or is this exclusively a US conspiracy?
Imagine this attitude in the 50's during the polio outbreak.
I will not allow dead animal tissues, formaldehyde (embalming fluid), aluminum (Alzheimers) or mercury (poisoning) to be injected into my body. The choice is yours, but don't make me take your poison too. Take the garbage into your blood stream, demyelinate your nerves, but leave mine alone and WASH YOUR HANDS; the biggest flu fighter out there.
Cindy, I respect your oppinion. It is your body, and if you choose not to vaccinate, thats fine. But, if you ever, God forbid, become sick with a curable or remisable form of cancer. I would hope you would choose life through modern medicine, rather than death by principle.
I do vaccinate. But don't take any other medicines, as I don't need to. I am fortunate to heal quickly without the medicine. I don't think I've taken more than 5 Ibuprofen in the last 5 years, so, I am lucky to not need the medicine. But having family that needed it, I have also seen medicine save lives.
Where did you learn all this nonsense Cindy. Washing hands helps, but that is not the whole story. Don't blame anyone else if you end up getting the flu this year.
Shawn, I would prefer the death by principle Reduces the population load.
The best defense against a flu, besides the vaccination, are to be mobile. Many folks become couch potatoes in the winter. Its cold out, and they don't get enough fresh air, or exercise the body like in the warmer weather. Even folks who are elderly, and in better weather get out and garden, or just walk, tend to become sedetary. You need to move your body, get fresh air, even cold fresh air. Exercise and good diet are the best defense for every ailment on the planet. Get your body healthy, and get sick less. Ski, snowshoe, walk the dog, or walk around the block. Staying in the house, watchin TV in artifically heated air, is just a breeding spot for germs. Get out, get healthy.
I am 56 years old, live in the Boston area (cold here) I started getting flu vacinnations at the request of my Doc for about 5 years now.
I never had one, (thankfully) and I don't plan on getting one. I have had common colds, but never a flu. Even when it was in my home.. Lucky I guess. But I do exercise regularly, and believe it is the best defense..
Every year, I got a flu shot. Every year, I got the flu. This year no shot for me. This year no flu for me. Interesting how that works out.
I don't believe a word of your little story. The flu season is far from over...good luck John.
You know what's funny? That I have a few people around me at work who are feeling sick, probable flu, and its the same people that feel they need to rush out and get a flu shot when they are available.
I think they have what is called the "common cold" which is another type of virus.
Oh no, they are going to doctors, breathing problems, light headed, you name it.
I'm just pointing out the fact that the ones that want to rush and get a flu shot, are the ones that always seem to get sick. I don't, and I don't.
Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself, but I'm 47 and never had a flu.
I heard of some places recently making it mandatory to keep ones job by requiring the flu shot. This is scary as hell and also another reason not to take one, as they just push these off on us far tooooooo hard for my liking. I look soon for these to become mandatory to get a SS check, food stamps, and all the other things some people need to get by. This is more than big brother, this takes it to a new limit.
For the first time, I received a Flu Shot last month, as I thought about how last year was a mild flu season and that meant this season it would be back with a vengeance.
Did not feel anything at all, but then again I am heavily tattooed. I did get a bizarre reaction. Lately, prior to receiving the Flu Shot, it seems that all of my injuries have been revisiting me with aches and pains all over and it was getting strenuous going up and down flights of stairs at age 58. I got the Flu Shot. People are telling me that I would feel sick, etc., etc. Well, the next morning and right up to this moment, the massive lump on my left hand between knuckles of the middle index finger and ring finger, is nearly flat. I have absolutely zero aches and pains. I am going up and down flights of stairs with disbelief, I feel like I am 43 years old again, and I even am chasing "Granny" (my wife) around the bedroom. All this Good, from the moment I got that Flu Shot last month. Is there something else in the inoculation, like an anti-inflammatory ingredient? I WANT MORE!
I cannot speak for anyone else but myself, and it has been real good since getting the Flu Shot. Wish I did this years earlier. The swollen lump on my knuckles is not placebo - it truly is down. Feeling 15 years younger is great. I normally do not believe in doctors and do not take medications or anything else. From now on, I will get the Flu Shot. I hope the benefits I have received since last month continues. I feel so good, I want to put on boxing gloves again and do a little training. Am I the "Lucky Millionth Customer"? Maybe I should buy a Lotto ticket?
No idea how the flu shot could have done all that for you, but glad you're feeling good! Yes, go buy a lotto ticket!
(I get the flu shot yearly- barely feel it if at all, and my only side effect is a lump at the injection site for a day or two)
Please someone tell us that Starbucks will be steam cleaning the new now
used re-usable coffee cup. Before they perform some lip to lip container on
some sickies cup to the mixer container - hence contamination to everyone. Any
need-to-be hygienic area really needs to spot out for this kind of stuff. Even
in a bar the bartender should not be using your old glass under the beer
dispenser.
You know what I mean, we have all seen it. The coughing, hacking, sniffing
drooling nose person who fondles all the cups in a stack. Or covered their
cough with their hand then swiveled it around in the straws looking for one that
sticks to a finger. How about those classic fork/knife/spoon trays in some
restaurant's – perfect contaminators.
Near all air born or contact virus can be contained with simple rules. If
your are sick, stay home and keep your zone of contamination to yourself.
Everyone will appreciate it. And if you can just stay away as far as possible
from someone whom is ill. I’ll walk right out of any queue if I detect anyone
who is a disease spreader. You will feel better than that other non-hygienic
person for sure.
I have never lowered my standards enough to patronize a Starbucks...but reusable cups? I don't think so
Do your research and be proactive. The flu is part of people's life if they aren't doing the smart things to avoid it. Proper hygiene, healthy living, and paying attention to what goes in and out of your mouth. I worked in a nursing home and hospital for 11 years and never called in ill. I did get upper respiratory colds two times. How can we have healthy immune systems if we don't fight off what is inevitable? Start reading and exploring all the information available, including these postings. Just something to think about: Why do you think people who are determined imminent per their doctors, go off meds, treatments, etc, and live longer than expected?
When I was a kid we did not have flu shots. We were fine. We did not know any better. Now we are all scared.
No, don't get a flu shot - those are only a yearly guess - looks like they got this years wrong again. When I got the flu shot, I was getting sick 3X/winter without fail - and it was so bad I ended up at the doctor's office every time. The flu vaccines are worthless.
looks like all of the "vaccines" you are pushing are working juuuust fine...
Just like gun related violence is accelerating in areas with the stiffest gun control? See something in common yet? Here is a hint. Stop stacking people on top of each other. And...the melting pot is not and will not work. Disease is one of natures way of culling the herd. Starvation, overpopulation, territorial disputes, and cultural differences are the natural causes of the MOST effective means of culling the herd-murder. That is SCIENCE folks.
Hmmm...would this have anything to do with the fact that pharmacies began giving out flu vaccinations in August? Now all those people have no immunity and will be susceptible. Get your flu shots, yes, but get them at the right time, so that your immunity level is present when it is needed.