Flu Activity High Across Virginia, No Deaths Reported

VIRGINIA — The flu is now considered widespread in 30 states, including Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the first week of 2019, three children died of flu-related causes nationwide, the CDC reported on Friday, Jan. 11; no deaths have been reported to date in Virginia.

The latest numbers provided by the CDC are current as of Jan. 5 for the 2018-19 flu season. Flu activity is "widespread" across the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health's latest flu surveillance report. The latest numbers documenting activity through Jan. 5 were released on Thursday, Jan. 10, by state health officials. Outbreaks of influenza or increases in flu cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza was present in at least half the regions of the state.

The H1N1(swine flu) strain is predominant in most of the country, while the H3N2 strain is predominant in the Southeast. FDA Director Scott Gottlieb said in a statement that the H1N1 strain tends to peak late in the flu season. However, Gottlieb said the flu vaccine is “generally good” against H1N1 strains and has a 60 percent effectiveness or more.

“It’s not too late to get vaccinated,” Gottlieb said. The latest numbers provided by the CDC are current as of Jan.5 for the 2018-19 flu season.

The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death. The groups most at risk are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

These are the symptoms of the flu:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue/tiredness
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

According to the CDC, Virginia and 29 other states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Jan. 5, while the remaining states reported regional, local or sporadic flu activity. The geographic spread of flu activity does not measure the severity of the virus.

The A(H1N1) viruses have predominated in most parts of the country, but the A(H3N2) viruses have predominated in the southeastern U.S. The CDC says it is too soon to assess how severe this flu season will be, but since the H1N1 virus emerged in 2009 it has been associated with significant illness and severe illness among young children.

The CDC says that during most seasons, about 80 percent of children who die are not vaccinated. The agency cited a study that says the vaccine reduces the risk of death among healthy children by 65 percent and among children with a high-risk condition by 50 percent.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide protection against the flu. You can find more information about the flu vaccine and its benefits here.

You can use the CDC's flu vaccine finder to locate a pharmacy or clinic near you that provides the vaccine:

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— By Patch editors Feroze Dhanoa and Elizabeth Janney

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