The number of flu cases in Louisiana has shown a rapid increase in the disease propagation across the state in the past month, reports from the Columbia University in New York suggest. Influenza cases in Louisiana, considering Type A and Type B has experienced an increasingly rapid expansion as it doubled in the last couple of weeks.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the flu vaccine for this season has showed 60 percent effectiveness so far. These results would make this season’s vaccine one of the most effective flu vaccines in the past few years, according to a report from CNN.
Notably, if the vaccine effectiveness is significantly greater than previous flu shots, it means there are fewer chances of going to the doctor for people contracting the disease.
So in fact, the flu vaccine is doing a better job this year, than ever before. That being said, there are more than 1,000 flu cases reported in New Orleans since last week, so the vaccine effectiveness is on trial as of now. There were 483 confirmed cases of the virus in the past two weeks alone reported in the city.
According to local doctors, they can confirm the sudden rise of flu cases as they received calls from patients at an unusual rate. For instance, one local physician claimed he had gotten up to 20 calls in the past two weeks, contrasted with a regular call a week in a normal situation.
The recent “outbreak” of the virus comes as no surprise as the New Orleans Health Department says the flu season starts in October and ends in May each year.
Influenza is here to stay
However, there can always be exceptions, and the flu peaks’ range can vary depending on the virus. Influenza is no joke; the disease can cause illness, visits to the hospital and even death if it’s not properly treated. According to officials, children under 8 years old have to get two doses if they’re getting the flu shot for the first time.
“There’s absolutely been a spike,” said internal medicine Dr. Brobson Lutz at the Orleans Parish Medical Society. “People are coming in with complaints about flu symptoms – fever, pains and problems with the respiratory system.”
The new data from the CDC said flu activity is increasing in the United States with an extensive range reported in 12 states so far.
On Friday, the institute reported that thirteen children had passed away as a result of the disease in this year’s flu season. So it’s imperative for people who haven’t been vaccinated this season to get a flu shot as soon as possible.
Source: The Advocate