As of now, the biggest worry on everyones minds is the coronavirus, but what about the flu? The flu at the moment has been rampaging through the US and the rest of the world posing a threat just as great as the coronavirus. According to the CDC, there have already been over 22 million cases of the flu with 210,100 of them resulting in hospitalizations. Furthermore, there have already been 12,000 deaths as a result of the flu illness. Currently, the mortality rate is only 0.1% below the epidemic threshold for this flu season, indicating the unusually high rate of flu illnesses this year.
For majority of the season, the influenza B/Victoria viruses has been reported higher than the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses but for the last few weeks has been the opposite. The major concern of this season is that dangerously high rates of flu illnesses in children, which has already resulted in 78 pediatric deaths. The effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine has not been released yet, but will be available later this month according to the CDC. However, the CDC still recommends getting the flu vaccines and states that it is still the best to prevent it and serious complications. Even when infected, obtaining antiviral medications is an effective way to help you fight off the virus.
The rest of the world is also facing the affects of this years flu season. According to the World Health Organization, influenza A has accounted for majority of flu illnesses around the world with the influenza B/Victoria strain also having a major impact. Europe has had increased levels of flu cases over the last few weeks, however, some northern countries have experienced decreased levels. Central Asia has faced predominately the influenza B strain and East Asia, the epicenter of the coronavirus, has faced flu-like illnesses as well. Overall, with the world focused on the growing threat of the coronavirus, the flu has been secretly wreaking havoc in the dark.
Priyam's Blog 