Eleven States See Widespread Flu Outbreaks

(AP)  Flu season is in full swing, with wide outbreaks in 11 states - and a new strain is starting to emerge that this year's vaccine doesn't specifically target, the government's public health chief said Friday.

People still should get their flu shot, and there's plenty available, Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press.

So far, the majority of flu cases are being caused by strains that are a good match to the vaccine - and it should provide some cross-protection against the new bug, too, Gerberding stressed.

"We're still very optimistic" about the protection, Gerberding said. "If people haven't gotten their flu shot, it really is still not too late."

Every year, the flu infects up to 20 percent of the population, causes the hospitalization of 200,000 people and kills 36,000.

Flu is a virus, but it can make its victims vulnerable to bacterial infections, in the lungs or the bloodstream, at the same time.

Children are at particular risk, and the CDC this week sent an alert to doctors to watch for young flu victims who might also have such bacterial infections as the notorious drug-resistant staph known as MRSA.

Last year, the CDC learned of 73 children who died from flu, and 44 percent of them had a bacterial co-infection - mostly staph. Compared to earlier years, that's a five-fold increase in staph piggybacking on kids' flu.

While the CDC's newest flu report lists one child death so far this year, Gerberding wanted to be sure that doctors test for staph in any child with a suspicious illness "because these bacteria need special treatment, and we want to make sure they get that right therapy."

Each year's vaccine contains protection against three influenza strains - two members of the nasty Type A family, an H1N1 and an H3N2 version, plus a milder Type B - that experts predict will cause the most illness.

So far this year, H1N1 is causing the vast majority of disease, Gerberding said.

But a new H3N2 strain emerged near the end of Australia's flu season, too late to be included in the U.S. vaccine. Called H3N2/Brisbane-like, it is now sickening Americans, although it still is making for a small proportion of cases, Gerberding cautioned.

Some 132 million doses of vaccine were produced this year, more than ever before. It's too early to know how many people got vaccinated, but Gerberding said a record number of doses were distributed to doctors and other vaccine providers - and that there is still some available.

CDC has found flu affecting most of the country but widespread outbreaks in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

[fitedafuture]

I got the flu shot late one afternoon in October, by the next morning I had the stinkin flu. What good was the shot?

perhaps it was an Alien virus you were injected with.

[slpdisk]

1994 Senator John D. Rockefeller issues a report revealing that for at least 50 years the Department of Defense has used hundreds of thousands of military personnel in human experiments and for intentional exposure to dangerous substances. Materials included mustard and nerve gas, ionizing radiation, psychochemicals, hallucinogens, and drugs used during the Gulf War .
1966 U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when army scientists drop lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.1950 I n an experiment to determine how susceptible an American city would be to biological attack, the U.S. Navy sprays a cloud of bacteria from ships over San Franciso. Monitoring devices are situated throughout the city in order to test the extent of infection. Many residents become ill with pneumonia-like symptoms.

[ampsanne]

There is nothing 100% sure in any medications. What works for the goose might not work for the gander. Usually if you get a flu shot you may still get it, but a more milder kind. Several years ago I missed my flu shot. My doctor told me to start taking Vitamin C and Echinacea, and I made it through the year without getting any flu. With this newest strain, even though I''ve had my flu shot, I''m going to start taking the Vitamin C and Echinaccea to help guard me more. And of course both of them are over the counter drugs.

[mennowoman]

thgdriverwrote: "BTW, what is a fly shot?"

Aren''t you clever.

[brianbwb-2009]

Stock up on vitamin C, whether tablets, of from fresh fruit. It will also help prevent flu, and for those who do get it, it can make the duration much shorter, and the symptoms much easier to bear.

And it not only doesn''t hurt, it tastes good...

[erasmus6]

This isn''t about the flu but about colds.

I started using Otrivin Saline nose spray a few years ago. It has NO MEDICINAL ingredients in it. I started using it for a dry nose but have continued to use it. I use it in the morning and the evening. I have had ONE cold in that time. I have started hearing that if you use a saline spray it can help prevent colds. It probably helps to rinse out any bacteria.

[luvcomments]

I used to get at least two colds every winter and then I got pneumonia three times over three years:( About five years ago, the nurse said they haven''t studied pneumonia vaccines long enough and suggested I get annual flu shots. Since that time, I haven''t had a cold, the flu or pneumonia - so the shots must help.

[barbaraf4]

They can add Tennessee to their list. I had my flu shot, but I am sick as a dog and everyone I know is either coming down with "it" or getting over "it".

[facts6]

This flu was spread by aerosol, no amount of handwashing would have stopped it. Flu vaccines are for specific strains of flu. When a strain comes round that is not in the shot the shot is worthless. A coworker brought it into our office. First flu I''ve had since the epidemic 50 yrs ago. Now that one was memorable!

[sgtrds]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHCCCCHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sniff, sniff)

sorry