Tuesday 15 July 2014

U.S. CDC - influenza vaccine for this coming autumn.


The 2013–14 influenza season began early, was pH1N1 predominant, and was relatively more severe than recent influenza seasons for adults aged less than 65 years. This season is a reminder that influenza viruses can affect all ages and that yearly vaccination is the best step to take to prevent illness from influenza and its associated complications. The 2013-14 influenza season was the first Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 (pH1N1) predominant season since the 2009 pandemic. It was characterized by lower overall levels of outpatient illness and mortality than influenza A (H3N2)–predominant seasons, but higher rates of hospitalization among adults aged 18–64 years compared to recent years. Although influenza activity is typically low in the summer, cases of influenza and even influenza outbreaks occur in the United States throughout the summer. Healthcare providers should remain vigilant and consider influenza as a potential cause of summer respiratory illnesses, and should consider treatment with influenza antiviral medications for those at high risk for influenza-associated complications

Posted by Tim Sandle

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