Is the end of the flu season near?
With 29 children reported dead due to flu-associated illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing warnings for the elderly as well.
"It has been recognized for many years that people 65 years and older are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu compared with young, healthy adults," the CDC distinguished.
Dr. Thomas Frieden, director for the CDC, has noted half of the confirmed flu cases are in people 65 years old or older. Out of 100,000 cases, 82 are from people ages 65 and older.
"Which is really quite a high rate," said Frieden.
Although the CDC does not track the number of deaths of adults, as they do with children, the CDC said about 90 percent of flu deaths are in the elderly.
According to the Associated Press, the current flu season started a month earlier than usual and approximately 129 million doses have flu vaccines have been distributed with reportedly a million doses given each day.
"[The vaccine is] by far the best tool we have to prevent influenza," said Frieden, although noting it is not perfect.
So is there relief in sight?
"An average flu season lasts about 12 weeks, and this is about week six," Frieden said. "So, we're about in the middle. But only time will tell exactly what happens this year."
Flu symptoms include body aches, chills, cough, fatigue. fever, headache, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose.
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