Early flu season could be severe, experts warn

[xchrom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/early-flu-season-could-be-severe-experts-warn/2012/12/29/9ae51816-5045-11e2-839d-d54cc6e49b63_story.html?hpid=z4


acquelyn Martin/AP - A flu vaccine needle. In early December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was noticing an uptick in flu activity about a month before authorities normally see it, and the earliest since the 2003-2004 flu season

Flu season in the United States is having its earliest start in nearly a decade and health officials say this season could be a bad one.

Although flu is always unpredictable, the early nature of the cases and the predominant type circulating this year could make this a severe flu season, said officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But officials said the vaccine formulated for this year is well-matched to the strains of the virus seen so far and urged those who have not been vaccinated to get a flu shot.

In early December, the CDC said it was noticing an uptick in flu activity about a month before authorities normally see it, and the earliest since the 2003-2004 flu season. The primary strain this season is the H3N2, an influenza A virus that has been associated in the past with more severe flu seasons.

[tridim]

1. I kicked the flu's ass during the past couple of days.

I felt it coming, immediately started on vitamins and orange/carrot juice. I woke up yesterday feeling great!

I love my immune system.

[Walk away]

2. I used to get the flu every other year until I started getting the shots 10 yrs ago.

I haven't had it since. Is there a correlation? I think so but I could be wrong.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Yes. Pigs, birds, Asians, whatever. We're all gonna die.

[xchrom]

7. Weak. Nt

[Buzz Clik]

9. meh. n/t

[Siwsan]

3. Don't they say this pretty much EVERY year??

And, then people get a strain of the flu that the vaccine didn't cover?

I would never discourage anyone from getting vaccinated but I've never had a flu vaccination, and never had the flu.

My grandfather accompanied his priest giving the last rites to people during the Spanish Flu epidemic. He never got sick, and none of his family ever got sick. Maybe we have some sort of genetic immunity. I figure I'd be more at risk of a secondary infection at the injection site.

That being said, I do take every other precaution, during flu season. Some day my immune system might just let me down.

[MrYikes]

4. Be afraid America, be afraid

and if you are not afraid of the flu, then find something else to continue the fear. We must live in fear,,,or the world would have no power over us.

[xchrom]

8. The anti-science sentiments in this thread are ridiculous.

This is almost as good as the ignorance one sees on YouTube.

[SheilaT]

10. Actually, I thought the flu

season was supposed to start by this time, but apparently I'm completely confused.

I do know that most years here on DU there is total hysteria about the coming flu epidemic that will kill us all. Or most of us anyway.

I trust my immune system. When I was younger I got flu occasionally, and haven't had it in at least thirty years. Don't get flu shots, either.

I have been accused of being a non-symptomatic carrier of flu, simply because I won't get the shots.

[Odin2005]

11. Good thing I got my shot this year.