Flu activity remains high nationwide for four consecutive weeks

IN THE FORECAST. WELL, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE WORST FLU SEASONS IN OVER A DECADE, WITH DOCTOR VISITS FOR FLU SYMPTOMS NOW AT A 15 YEAR HIGH. NATIONWIDE, MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH THE FLU. 46 JURISDICTIONS ARE REPORTING HIGH OR VERY HIGH FLU LEVELS. THAT INCLUDES HERE IN MARYLAND. SO JOINING US NOW IS DOCTOR LAWANDA STEVENS WITH PATIENT FIRST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING. SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SEEING AT PATIENT FIRST. WELL DURING THIS SEASON WE’RE SEEING ABNORMALLY HIGH LEVELS OF PEOPLE WITH HIGH FEVERS. LOTS OF THE NORMAL FLU SEASON SYMPTOMS, DRY COUGH, MUSCLE ACHES. AND A LOT OF THIS IS AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN AS WELL. YEAH. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT MAYBE THEY HAVEN’T CAUGHT IT. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE. I KNOW IT RAN THROUGH MY HOUSE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE FLU IF YOU’VE MANAGED TO AVOID IT SO FAR? THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HAND WASHING. AVOIDING SICK CONTACTS IF POSSIBLE. AND ALSO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SICK, MAKING SURE THAT YOU ISOLATE YOURSELF AWAY FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND CONTACTS. AND YOU SAID IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET THE FLU SHOT IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT IT. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO’S NOW UNVACCINATED TO GO IN AND GET THEIR FLU SHOT. IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR PROTECTION TO KICK IN, BUT FLU SEASON DOES NOT FINISH UNTIL ABOUT MAY, AND THAT COULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING. ONCE THE WEATHER SHIFTS, THEY MIGHT BE IN THE CLEAR AND WE’RE SEEING THE MAP AND HOW BAD IT IS RIGHT NOW. AND THE NUMBERS AND OVER 30%, NEARLY 35% OF FLU TESTS HAVE BEEN POSITIVE IN MARYLAND LAST WEEK. IN THE MOST RECENT DATA. LET’S SAY YOU DO COME DOWN WITH IT, UNFORTUNATELY. WHAT DO YOU DO? HOW DO YOU RECOVER? HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU MAKE IT THROUGH IT? BEST THING. HYDRATE. KEEP YOURSELF ISOLATED. ALL COUGHING AND SNEEZING. MAKE SURE YOU USE TISSUES. TRY TO AVOID OTHER SICK CONTACTS. BED REST IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE TIME THEY NEED TO REST, HYDRATE AND GET THEMSELVES BETTER. AND I GUESS IT’S IMPORTANT TO IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME, DON’T INFECT OTHER PEOPLE. YES, MOST PEOPLE WILL CATCH THE FLU FROM A CLOSE CONTACT, BUT IF YOU CAN PUT YOURSELF OUT INTO ISOLATION, EVEN FOR THE FEW DAYS, UNTIL YOU ARE FEVER FREE FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS OFF MEDICATIONS, THIS CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FLU TO OTHERS. ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR LAWANDA STEVENS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. WE KNOW THE FLU SEASON. WE’RE STILL I

18 new pediatric deaths reported in new data as flu activity remains high across US

Flu activity remains elevated in the U.S., though not as high as last week’s peak, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly influenza reports. For the week ending on Feb. 15, the CDC classified 26 states and Washington, D.C., as having “very high” flu activity levels and 16 states as having “high” activity levels. This marks the fourth consecutive week in which flu activity remained high, with the season being classified as one of high severity. More than half of states and Washington, D.C., reported having “very high” flu activity. While it’s still considered high, it’s lower than last week’s peak, when more than two-thirds of states reported high activity. Since the start of October, the CDC estimates there have been at least 33 million influenza illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths during this flu cycle. Flu-related pediatric deaths have totaled 86, with 18 reported this week. Each week, the CDC monitors doctors’ visits for flu-like illnesses and labels each state on a scale from “minimal” to “very high” flu activity levels. The exception is Vermont, which the CDC reports having “inadequate data.” Flu season most often peaks in February, according to CDC data. Prescription flu antiviral drugs can treat the illness, which the CDC recommends starting them as early as possible, especially for patients at higher risk for severe illness. Anyone aged 6 months and older is recommended to get an annual flu shot, according to the CDC. You can find vaccination locations near you at vaccines.gov. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

WASHINGTON —

Flu activity remains elevated in the U.S., though not as high as last week’s peak, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly influenza reports.

For the week ending on Feb. 15, the CDC classified 26 states and Washington, D.C., as having “very high” flu activity levels and 16 states as having “high” activity levels.

This marks the fourth consecutive week in which flu activity remained high, with the season being classified as one of high severity.

More than half of states and Washington, D.C., reported having “very high” flu activity. While it’s still considered high, it’s lower than last week’s peak, when more than two-thirds of states reported high activity.

Since the start of October, the CDC estimates there have been at least 33 million influenza illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths during this flu cycle. Flu-related pediatric deaths have totaled 86, with 18 reported this week.

Each week, the CDC monitors doctors’ visits for flu-like illnesses and labels each state on a scale from “minimal” to “very high” flu activity levels. The exception is Vermont, which the CDC reports having “inadequate data.”

Flu season most often peaks in February, according to CDC data. Prescription flu antiviral drugs can treat the illness, which the CDC recommends starting them as early as possible, especially for patients at higher risk for severe illness.

Anyone aged 6 months and older is recommended to get an annual flu shot, according to the CDC. You can find vaccination locations near you at vaccines.gov.

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