Americans battling worst flu season in years
Fox Information senior media analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses the uptick in flu instances this 12 months and a brand new research claiming rising quantities of microplastics are being present in mind samples.
The U.S. is in peak flu season, because the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) says “seasonal influenza exercise stays elevated and continues to extend throughout the nation.”
Case counts differ by state, nonetheless. Every week, the CDC releases a map of influenza activity throughout the nation.
The colour-coded map signifies every state’s exercise stage, starting from minimal to very excessive.
Probably the most present map displays knowledge from the week ending Feb 8, 2025.
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Flu exercise is presently highest in New York Metropolis, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
The colour-coded map signifies every state’s exercise stage, starting from minimal to very excessive. (Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention)
That’s adopted by Maine, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Just under that stage, however nonetheless “very excessive,” are New York State, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Idaho, California, Mississippi, Alabama and Connecticut.
Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Florida, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota are all “high-activity” states.
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North Dakota and Utah are categorised as “reasonable.”
Montana, Hawaii and Alaska are the one states that fall into the “low exercise” class.
Anita Patel, PharmD and vice chairman of Pharmacy Well being Companies at Walgreens in Atlanta, mentioned that flu spread usually begins spreading within the southern states.
The U.S. is in peak flu season, because the CDC says “seasonal influenza exercise stays elevated and continues to extend throughout the nation.” (iStock)
“This is because of a mix of things, together with climate patterns, travel habits and inhabitants density, which might create superb circumstances for the viruses to unfold — although the general flu season usually peaks throughout colder months when persons are spending extra time indoors,” she advised Fox Information Digital.
“What we’re seeing now’s excessive exercise in southern states, with some states that had illness early starting to get better, like Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.”
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The northern and western areas of the nation at the moment are peaking, Patel famous.
“Research present that because it will get colder and drier, viruses like flu journey higher,” she mentioned. “Within the winter, individuals typically spend extra time indoors, usually in shut proximity to one another. This elevated indoor exercise could make it simpler for the virus to unfold.”
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Densely populated states which might be chilly are inclined to have extra transmission, the skilled famous — “extra individuals per capita makes social distancing tougher, plus [there is] extra indoor exercise, therefore their charges are increased.”
“The flu vaccine can forestall individuals from getting sick, however extra importantly, it might cut back the severity of signs for those who do get sick,” an skilled famous. (iStock)
Flu vaccination charges are additionally decrease nationwide, Patel identified.
“The flu vaccine can forestall individuals from getting sick, however extra importantly, it might cut back the severity of signs for those who do get sick,” she advised Fox Information Digital.
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“The CDC knowledge measures outpatient reported sickness (individuals looking for care as a result of they’re sick as a substitute of simply staying house),” Patel added. “With extra individuals this 12 months looking for care, the decrease vaccine rates can also be taking part in into the extra intense season.”