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CDC says that US has hit a flu epidemic threshold and already claimed the life of 15 children.
US Federal public health agency, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the death of 122 people from pneumonia and influenza has surpassed the baseline and now stands at the epidemic threshold.
Number of states reporting high flu activity have also increased from 13 to 22.
The reason behind the explosion of the disease is due to the mutation of the virus named H3N2 so eventually the effectiveness of the vaccines has reduced.
CDC has reported that the effectiveness of the vaccine was recorded to be 55 percent last year which has certainly reduced because of the mutation of H3N2.
Some cases of H1N1 and two types of Influenza B are also reported. Some are included in the current flu vaccines and some are not. CDC recommends people to get vaccinated so that it will protect people from the flu that out there.
CDC said in a statement “A total of 15 influenza-associated deaths have been reported during the 2014-2015 season from nine states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia,”
About half the children sick enough to be hospitalized had been perfectly healthy. Many of those with so-called underlying conditions were obese or had asthma, both of which can raise the risk that someone will get seriously ill from flu.
Generally flu hits people of very young and very old age. Yearly it kills 4000 to 50000 people a year depending on the season.
The best way to protect ourselves from flu is to wash our hands frequently. Flu is actually transmitted by close contact with someone, coughing, sneezing or touching the droplets and touching nose, eyes or mouth with it.
