Flu Outbreaks Hitting Most States Hard

Flu Outbreaks Hitting Most States Hard
The Nemours Foundation

The flu season is in full swing as families from coast to coast cover their coughs and dodge oncoming sneezes. As many states plod through widespread outbreaks, health officials say a new strain of the virus is emerging that the flu immunization doesn't provide protection against. That's because each year the vaccine is created to combat the three most current strains of the virus — though other strains may crop up at any time.

In the last few weeks, the number of states experiencing the flu in full force jumped from 11 to 44. And health officials say that while this season doesn't appear to be any more severe than others, it looks like it will be lasting for a while, maybe even into May.

Many of the flu cases being reported aren't caused by the exact strains that this year's vaccine targeted. However, getting vaccinated can still help prevent complications and can make symptoms far more mild — and that's regardless of whether or not you come down with a strain of the virus that isn't part of this year's vaccine.

Although most healthy people infected with the flu virus can weather the infection without problems, the flu can cause serious sickness in some, especially those considered high risk (including children ages 6 months to 5 years, and tots with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes).

Each year, the highly contagious seasonal bug kills 36,000 people and sends another 200,000 (including more than 20,000 kids under age 5) to the hospital. Yet a mere 1 in 5 babies and toddlers (who are especially at risk) receives the annual vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Even though it is the middle of the flu season, health officials say it's still not too late to get the vaccine. That is, if you can find it.

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