As February reaches its halfway point, so does the 2012-13 flu season.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the peak months of the flu season are January or February. The CDC estimate appears to be accurate as the number of states reporting flu related illnesses dropped for a consecutive week.
The CDC has noted flu and pneumonia deaths have dropped in the last two weeks.
"It's likely that the worst of the current flu season is over," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner, via the Associated Press.
Many states that have reported "widespread" flu cases, such as Georgia and New York, are now reporting lower flu activity. However, the flu is still active in the West Coast and Southwestern U.S.
Unfortunately the current flu season has surpassed the 2011-12 flu season when it comes to deaths in children. The 2011-12 flu season saw 34 children pass away from flu-associated illnesses, while the current season currently stands at 59 deaths. The numbers are low compared to the 2009-10 season when 282 pediatric deaths were recorded.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, sore throat, chills, a cough, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and potentially diarrhea and vomiting. Infants will often experience poor circulation, lethargy, swollen glands, and a lack of appetite.
According to the CDC, there are preventive measures people can take from spreading the flu but still recommend people to take the annual flu vaccine.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick with a respiratory illness, like flu, limit contact with others as possible. Stay home (or keep your child home) for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to seek medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
- If an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs, follow public health advice. This may include information about how to increase distance between people and other measures.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. This will block the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose that could contain germs.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
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