what is the 2018 flu virus course

T he 2017-2018 flu season was a bad one. The dominant viral strain, H3N2, was a particularly severe form of influenza, leading to widespread and serious illness across the country. The flu and its complications killed around 80,000 people last year, the CDC

estimates, including 180 children.

Full Answer

When did the flu season start and end in 2018?

The 2017–2018 United States flu season lasted from late 2017 through early 2018. The predominant strain of influenza was H3N2. During the spring months of March–May, influenza B virus became dominant.

What is the latest CDC report on the flu?

CDC Flu Reports & Spotlights CDC Grand Rounds: Public Health Response to Severe Influenza Study Shows Flu Vaccine Reduces Risk of Severe Illness August 1, 2018 Influenza Division Staff Win Two Charles C. Shepard Awards June 14, 2018 CDC Reported Flu Deaths in Children Exceeds Seasonal High June 8, 2018

How many people died from the flu in 2017 2018?

The 2017–2018 flu season was severe for all US populations and resulted in an estimated 959,000 hospitalizations and 61,099 deaths. This is the highest number of patient claims since the 2009 flu season.

When is a flu season considered serious?

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu seasons that are considered serious typically occur when influenza A (H3N2) is especially prevalent, as it was this year. During a serious season, there can be up to 35 million cases of flu, with 700,000 hospitalizations and 56,000 fatalities.

How long did 2018 flu last?

It was the longest in a decade, lasting 21 weeks. Fewer illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths were reported this year than during last year's notoriously brutal flu season, earning the 2018-2019 season an overall severity rating of “moderate,” according to a new CDC recap.

What was the flu virus in 2018?

Background and Results: 2018-2019 Flu Burden Estimates Influenza A viruses were the predominant circulating viruses last year. While influenza A(H1N1pdm09) viruses predominated from October 2018 – mid February 2019, influenza A(H3N2) viruses were more commonly reported starting in late February 2019.

What was in the flu vaccine 2018?

For 2018-2019, trivalent (three-component) vaccines are recommended to contain: A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus. A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 A(H3N2)-like virus (updated) B/Colorado/06/2017-like (Victoria lineage) virus (updated)

How many people died from flu in 2018 worldwide?

Seasonal flu kills 291,000 to 646,000 people worldwide each year, according to a new estimate that's higher than the previous one of 250,000 to 500,000 deaths a year. The new figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other groups were published Dec.

How many had the flu in 2018?

The 2017–2018 flu season was severe for all US populations and resulted in an estimated 41 million cases, 710,000 hospitalizations and 52,000 deaths.

How many people died of influenza and pneumonia in 2018?

Deaths by influenza and pneumonia in the U.S. from 1950 to 2019 (per 100,000 population)CharacteristicDeath rate per 100,000 population201912.3201814.9201714.3201613.59 more rows

How effective is 2018 flu shot?

Flu vaccine effectiveness for the 2018-2019 flu season was estimated to be 61% against all flu types in children aged between 6 months and 17 years, and 24% for all flu types in adult patients 50 years and older.

How effective is the 2018/19 flu shot?

The vaccine must be changed each year, in hopes of matching the ever-mutating viruses. And that's been a challenge. On average, it's been 40% effective, meaning it's prevented illness 40% of the time.

How long was the 2018/2019 flu season?

The 2018-2019 United States flu season was the longest season in a decade, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced. Influenza-like illness activity began increasing November and peaked during mid-February, returning to below baseline in mid-April. In total, the season lasted 21 weeks.

How many children died of the flu in 2018?

The CDC reported that there have been a total of 325 deaths in children under 18 related to the flu since the 2018-2019 season. There were 136 pediatric flu deaths reported during the 2018-2019 season, 188 pediatric deaths reported in the 2019-2020 season and one death during the 2020-2021 season.

How many people died of pneumonia 2018?

In the United States, 1.5 million people were diagnosed with pneumonia in an emergency department during 2018. Unfortunately, more than 40,000 people died from the disease that year in the United States.

Who is most likely to get the flu?

The same CID study found that children are most likely to get sick from flu and that people 65 and older are least likely to get sick from influenza. Median incidence values (or attack rate) by age group were 9.3% for children 0-17 years, 8.8% for adults 18-64 years, and 3.9% for adults 65 years and older.

What flu was going around in 2016?

Overall, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses predominated during the 2015-2016 season. However, influenza A (H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B viruses from both lineages were detected last season.

How many people died from the flu in 2017?

CDC estimates that flu burden during the 2017–2018 flu season was high, with an estimated 41 million people getting sick with flu, 21 million people going to a health care provider for flu-related symptoms, 710,000 flu hospitalizations, and 52,000 deaths from flu (Table 1).

What kind of virus is the influenza virus?

Influenza viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This family represents enveloped viruses the genome of which consists of segmented negative-sense single-strand RNA segments.

How many Australians died of the flu in 2018?

The number of deaths reported in notified cases of laboratory confirmed influenza to the NNDSS in 2018 to date (n=57) was considerably lower than the 5 year average (378).

When does the flu peak?

Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, and it can last as late as May. CDC monitors certain key flu indicators (for example, outpatient visits of influenza-like illness (ILI), the results of laboratory testing and reports of flu hospitalizations and deaths).

What is the best antiviral for flu?

Four FDA-approved antiviral medications are recommended for use during the 2018-2019 flu season: oseltamivir (available in generic versions and under the trade name Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), peramivir (Rapivab®), and baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza®).

How does CDC estimate the burden of seasonal flu on the United States?

The burden of influenza on the United States can vary widely from season to season and is determined by a number of factors including the characteristics of circulating viruses, the timing of the season, population immunity to circulating viruses, how well flu vaccines are working, and how many people have gotten vaccinated. While the impact of flu varies, it places a substantial burden on the health of people in the United States each year.

What is antiviral resistance?

Antiviral resistance means that a virus has changed in such a way that antiviral drugs are less effective or not effective at all in treating or preventing illnesses with that virus. CDC will continue to collect and monitor flu viruses for changes through an established network of domestic and global surveillance systems. CDC also is working with the state public health departments and the World Health Organization to collect additional information on antiviral resistance in the United States and worldwide. The information collected will assist in making informed recommendations regarding use of antiviral drugs to treat influenza.

How to prevent the flu?

In addition to getting a seasonal flu vaccine, you can take everyday preventive actions like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading flu to others. In addition, there are prescription medications called antiviral drugs that can be used to treat influenza illness.

When was Xofluza approved?

Baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza®) is a new influenza single-dose antiviral drug approved October 24, 2018 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Baloxavir is approved for the treatment of acute uncomplicated flu in people 12 years and older who have had flu symptoms for less than 48 hours.

How long does it take to recover from the flu?

Most people who become sick will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people may become more severely ill. Following flu infection, moderate complications such as secondary ear and sinus infections can occur. Pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either influenza virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues, and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Severe complications can happen to anyone, but may be more likely to happen to people who have certain chronic medical conditions, or in elderly persons.

Common 2018 flu symptoms

Here are the tell-tale signs of having the flu, according to the CDC: fever and/or chills, cough, sore throat, a runny and/or stuffed nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue (flu symptoms may present in groups of two or three or all at once). Some flu patients also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

Why the 2018 flu outbreak could be especially deadly

There are a number of factors driving the current flu season, which is already being called “moderately severe” by health officials and has yet to peak (February is usually when flu season is worst). For one thing, it’s been a particularly cold winter in many parts of the U.S., which makes for a more resilient and longer-lingering influenza virus.

Is it too late to get a flu shot?

Now for the good news: It isn’t too late to get the flu shot! And, despite concerns about this year’s flu vaccine effectiveness, everyone is still recommended to get one.

How severe was the flu in 2017-2018?

High rates of flu occurred all over the country simultaneously, in contrast to most seasons of the past decade, when certain states would peak with flu activity while others remained relatively quiet (see Chart ). This sustained and widespread high level of flu activity resulted in a jump in hospitalizations. Death rates were highest in the over-65 age group , which is typical, but the second most affected group comprised those aged 50 to 64 years old; normally, the second highest death rates occur in children, from birth through age 4 years. 1 The ferociousness of the flu season overall, combined with above-average impacts on younger baby boomers, made 2017-2018 one for the record books.

Why did middle-aged people find themselves felled by the flu in higher numbers than in other years?

Fauci suggested it had to do with imprinting, or the very first flu virus to which people in this age group were exposed as young children. “Your first exposure will influence how you respond for the rest of your life ,” he said. “You have a better response to what you were initially exposed to.” In other words, there’s a good possibility that from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, when individuals in this age group were born, the viruses floating around were not H3 viruses different strains, such as H2. This could have resulted in individuals in this age group having a comparatively poor response to the strains circulating this past season.

How effective is H1N1?

Against H1N1 and influenza B viruses, it’s been 50% to 60% effective. Although those aged 65 and older bore the brunt of hospitalizations and deaths from flu this past season, as they do every year—estimates are that 71% to 85% of all flu deaths every year occur in people in this age group— the group at next highest risk was those aged 50 to 64, ...

When does the flu start?

In the U.S., influenza infections generally begin to appear in October or November and flu activity lasts through the winter, often until March and sometimes later into the spring. Vaccination remains one of the most effective methods for avoiding infection from influenza.

How many people died from the Spanish flu?

1 It is estimated that nearly one-third of the entire world's population at the time—a total of nearly 500 million people—were infected with the virus and experienced symptoms of infection; approximately 50 million people died from infection with Spanish influenza. 11 A unique feature of this virus was that deaths attributed to it were not distributed in a typical "u-shaped curve": the virus of 1918 affected more than just young children and the elderly and was described with a "w- shaped curve" due to its propensity to affect significant numbers of young adults aged 15 to 34 years in addition to the young and the elderly. 11 While advances in vaccination, antibiotics, and preventive efforts have reduced the chance of a pandemic of this magnitude occurring again, it is estimated that a similar virus would kill nearly 100 million people today. 11

What is a cell culture based IIV?

The cell culture-based IIV (ccIIV) is developed in the same manner as the traditional IIV, but mammalian cells are used instead of traditional eggs. 16 While this significantly reduces the risks associated with the use of eggs, eggs are still involved in part of the production process.

Is the flu a contagious disease?

The influenza virus significantly impacts public health worldwide. It causes a highly contagious illness that disproportionately affects children and the elderly. Influenza (commonly called "flu") is a powerful infectious disease that has caused significant outbreaks in the absence of vaccination.

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