Flu Season 2014-2015: Deaths Reach 'Epidemic Threshold'-- CDC

• comments
• 
• 

The proportion of deaths caused by influenza and pneumonia has reached an epidemic threshold, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency has recorded 15 influenza-associated deaths among children, based on its latest weekly flu report. The report also showed 22 states experiencing increased flu activity, and the proportion of those getting flu consultations with their healthcare providers increasing to 5.5 per cent.

Flu activity is high in about half of the U.S., with flu-like illnesses now approaching the peak levels seen during last year's flu season, according to the CDC. The CDC said it expects flu activity to continue in the coming weeks, with increases occurring in those states that have not yet seen significant activity.

Meanwhile, experts are still advising people to get flu shots, despite this year's vaccine not effective against the most dominant strain of the virus, which is the H3N2 strain.

"There is not just one strain of flu out there," according to Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. "During the season, other flu strains will become active and we anticipate that they will match up with the vaccine. The vaccine is designed to protect against three or four different strains, so a lot of people will be protected as the epidemic evolves."

He also added that getting flu shots could potentially save lives, particularly the lives of children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.