This year’s flu season in the US is a very harsh one as it is rivaling with some of the deadliest flu seasons in history, such as the swine flu epidemic of 2009. Up to 4,000 flu-related deaths are registered in the US, on a weekly basis.
Virologists have no clue why this season is such deadly
The CDC virologists said there is no change in the flu virus strain that circulates this season in comparison to other seasons. It is, actually, the same flu virus strain, the H3N2 strain or the “Hong Kong flu”.
Unfortunately, virologists can’t explain why the strain is affecting so many people and why it is causing so many deaths if it has not suffered any mutation.
Influenza is responsible for 1 in 10 deaths in the USA this season
According to the latest data available, during the third week of January 2018, from the more than 44,000 deaths in the US, more than 4,000 deaths were related to influenza and pneumonia.
Usually, influenza and pneumonia go hand in hand, pneumonia being one of the deadliest secondary infection the influenza virus can prone to.
Tragically, more than 60 deaths related to flu have been recorded in children this season.
Officials predict even more deaths and hospitalizations
This year’s flu season is far from ending, therefore the CDC officials expect even more deaths and hospitalizations.
“Over the next few weeks, we do expect and it would make sense to see more pneumonia and flu-related deaths. The people who are likely to die are already in the hospital,” stated Anne Schuchat, a director at the CDC.
The officials are still conducting studies and tests on the flu virus strain of this season hoping that they will eventually understand how can the virus be such resistant even to the vaccines and so to take the appropriate measures to restrain it.
