The U.S. flu season is underway, with at least seven states reporting high levels of illnesses and cases rising in other parts of the country, health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. It was also high in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory where health officials declared an influenza epidemic earlier this month.
“We’re off to the races,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert
Traditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January. But it took off in October last year, and is making a November entrance this year.
Glad I got my flu shot…
How effective is it this year, anyone know? I got mine and the new COVID shot around the same time early October
Depends on the strain. But on average it’s about 50% this year it seems. Lowering my odds of losing a week by 50% seems worthwhile for me though. I hate being sick. And I hate getting behind.
This is why I still mask and social distance.
That, and covid is still the number 1 killer of youth under the age of 18.
Is that true? I've never heard that claim
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-01-31-covid-19-leading-cause-death-children-and-young-people-us
That is the most recent straight-from-source study I can find on the topic. Also published coincidentally right around the time governments started to refuse to collect data on Covid and declared Covid "over".
So, I'd say if we were still collecting the data, we may be able to see if the trajectory has changed, but we aren't, so we cant.
Also cant imagine that eliminating all Covid restrictions improved the figures.
So, is it true? 100% a year ago. I am inclined to believe it is still true, but I cannot say "100% that is true today."
From the article:
Among children and young people aged 0 – 19 years in the US, COVID-19 ranked eighth among all causes of death; fifth among all disease-related causes of death; and first in deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases.
Unless I'm reading that wrong covid was never the leading cause of death for people under 18.
Seems to be a thing that is ubiquitous here on lemmy. Someone posts a source that does not support their position, gets dozens of upvotes.
Among children and young people aged 0 – 19 years in the US, COVID-19 ranked eighth among all causes of death; fifth among all disease-related causes of death; and first in deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases.
It was not even true a year ago, actually, unless you slice the data down to only look at deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases which, frankly, feels like a pretty obvious outcome for 2020-2022.
That's fuckin wild, dude
Is this news when it's flu season and normal?
Traditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January. But it took off in October last year, and is making a November entrance this year.
It's not normal.
Not much is "normal" anymore. Early/more vicious/more often is the new normal in just about everything.
That's a good point. Climate change is effecting much more than just the weather.
It's a good reminder to get your shot at least. Flu is no joke and kills usually about 30 thousand to 50 thousand people a year in the US.
Also a new vaccine this year not a lot of people know about is available for respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) which any parent can tell you is a nightmare for young children. Also deadly to older adults. Information on who should get that vaccine Here . Basically pregnant individuals, young children and infants, and adults over 60.
I used to be pretty blasé about the flu shot. I was always thinking that I was young and that the shots should go to the elderly and vulnerable. Didn't realize I was a vector of passing it on.
COVID changed me quite a bit. Got my doses as soon as I could. I mask up crowds too. Not sure it matters but I don't think it hurts much either.
That's all great stuff to do! You never know, getting a vaccine could save another's life or your own. And flu is a nasty virus for anyone. Besides upper respiratory symptoms it can do things like pneumonia, septic shock, guillan barre syndrome, myocarditis, rhabdomyolysis, encephalitis, the list goes on.
I never used to get the flu shot and rarely got the flu (like twice in 20 yrs or so). That changed in '08-'09 when I got hit with the Norwalk and it kicked my ass for weeks.
Now I get whatever shots are available.
Well, this is perfect timing for my hangover on Monday!
Biodiversity? Nah I have everything in bluechips cuz smart. /s
