Flu season update
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The 2007-08 flu season is winding down -- with the rate of reported influenza cases decreasing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- however, the danger isn’t over yet. The CDC reports that for the 10th consecutive week the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza is ‘above the epidemic threshold.’
One doctor, PalMD, guest blogging at denialism, reports from the flu frontlines:
While still widespread, numbers are finally starting to drop. I’m ready to drop myself. It’s been a terrible season---the worst I’ve ever seen. This is probably due, at least in part, to this year’s flu vaccine missing some unanticipated strains. For those of you out there who don’t ‘believe in’ flu shots, remember that vaccination isn’t a religion. The anti-vaccination forces are, however, rather cult-like. Here’s some info for you. Influenza is a serious illness, and vaccination can prevent or reduce severity of illness. Partly as a response to some anti-vaccine nuttery, I think we should talk about this a little bit.
Last month, the CDC adjusted its guidelines, recommending that all children 6 months and over get the influenza vaccine every year, but that edict could create major logistical problems according to Dr. Sydney Spiesel in a National Public Radio interview.
--Martin Beck