Child's Death Is First of Flu Season

Child's Death Is First of Flu Season
CDC Reports Flu-Related Death of Minnesota Child
By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Jan. 7, 2009 - A Minnesota child was the first flu-related pediatric death of the 2008-2009 flu season, the CDC reports.
The death occurred during the week ending Dec. 20, 2008.
As of the end of 2008, flu cases had begun to trend upward. Thirty states, including Minnesota and the District of Columbia, report only sporadic flu cases. Three states -- Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia -- reported region-wide flu activity; 10 states reported localized flu outbreaks.
No state has reported widespread flu. That's likely to change. Peak flu season usually occurs in January or February.
Hospitals report that cases of flu-like illnesses have begun to rise, although they hadn't yet increased beyond what is normal for this time of year. A trend of increasing flu-like illnesses is the first sign that flu season has arrived.
That's good news if you haven't yet got around to getting flu shots (or sniffs of the nasal flu vaccine) for your family. There's still plenty of time for protection, especially as flu cases pop up throughout the winter and spring.
Flu vaccination is even more important this year, as one of the flu bugs in circulation is resistant to the flu drug Tamiflu. Fortunately, this year's vaccine is an excellent match for the flu bugs circulating in the U.S.
Last year's flu vaccine was not a good match for the H3N2 flu bug that caused the most flu over the course of the season. However, even mismatched flu vaccine offers significant protection.
In terms of deaths and hospitalizations, the 2007-2008 flu season was the most severe season of the past three seasons. There's no way to predict how severe this year's flu season will be.

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090107/childs-death-is-first-of-flu-season?ecd=wnl_epi_010909

NHS: Flu season kicks off early

NHS: Flu season kicks off early
Monday, December 15 11:58 am
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The flu season has started a month earlier than expected, the NHS has said. Skip related content
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NHS: Flu season kicks off early
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NHS Direct has seen the number of calls about symptoms more than double over the last three months and doctors are being urged to start prescribing ant-viral drugs.
Last year the virus began affecting people from mid-January but schools and hospitals are already reporting outbreaks, with children and the elderly the most vulnerable.
NHS is urging people to check their symptoms online as increasing numbers are expected to be struck down in the coming months.
For most people, the flu is nothing more than a week of feeling under the weather, but for those such as the elderly, and patients with lung problems and diabetes it can be far more dangerous - even life threatening.
The most at-risk groups are encouraged to get the flu jab each year.
The Department of Health along with the Health Protection Agency have written to doctors in England to recommend they prescribe ant-viral drugs to the most vulnerable groups.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20081215/tuk-nhs-flu-season-kicks-off-early-dba1618.html

Hospitals Braced For Flu Outbreak
Wednesday, December 24 04:35 am Sky News
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Hospitals across the country are braced for an influx of flu patients as doctors' surgeries close for Christmas. Skip related content
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Hospitals Braced For Flu Outbreak
Health experts have predicted the biggest outbreak of flu for nine years could be on its way.
The Royal College of GPs says the number of people seeing their doctor with the symptoms shot up 73% in a week.
The biggest rise was in the 65-plus age group which saw a huge increase of 151%.
The Department of Health's director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, said: "We have had very little flu over the last few years and this year may be like 1999/2000 when figures were quite high.
"The best protection against flu is to have the flu jab."
Prof Salisbury added: "There are simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent catching colds and flu.
"Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes, throw away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly wash your hands.
"If you think you have flu, stay at home, drink plenty of fluids and take medicines like aspirin or paracetamol for your symptoms."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081224/tuk-hospitals-braced-for-flu-outbreak-45dbed5.html