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US flu hospitalizations at record high, spread of virus worsening, CDC reports

The number of hospitalizations of Americans with the flu has reached the highest rates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ever recorded and the season is far from over, the head of the agency told reporters.

The CDC's latest tracking data indicated that flu activity in the U.S. remains high and widespread across most of the nation and is increasing overall, Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC, said during a Feb. 2 media briefing.

Schuchat also said there had been an additional 16 reports in the past week of children dying from the flu, bringing the total number of influenza-related pediatric deaths in the U.S. to 53.

The CDC received one additional report of a child dying from the flu, but the agency said that death actually occurred during the 2015-2016 season and was only recently reported.

"This season is a somber reminder of why flu is one of the world's greatest public health challenges and why we at CDC focus intently on efforts to fight the flu," Schuchat said.

The number of hospitalizations in the U.S. related to the flu has now surpassed the 2014-2015 season, when 710,000 people were admitted for influenza-related illnesses.

The overall hospitalization rate in the U.S. for the week ending Jan. 27 was 51.4 per 100,000 population, the CDC reported. The highest rate of hospitalization was among adults 65 years or older followed by adults 50 to 64.

Ineffective vaccine

The biggest culprit during the 2017-2018 season has been the H3N2 virus, a particularly nasty strain, which mutated after this season's influenza vaccines were produced. The H3N2 virus was the same predominant strain during the 2014-2015 season.

U.S. officials had estimated that the vaccines used for the 2017-2018 season were about 30% effective in protecting people against the flu. But the latest research from Canada shows this season's vaccines have been only about 10% effective overall.

Schuchat said she was not too surprised by the Canadian research report, given that officials in the Southern Hemisphere had reported about the same effectiveness of only 10% during its season.

But the CDC chief emphasized that multiple strains of the flu are circulating throughout the U.S. and that the vaccine appears to be effective against the H1N1 virus and the two influenza B strains, Victoria and Yamagata.

"We continue to recommend the flu vaccine. Even though we know most flu vaccines have low effectiveness against H3N2, effectiveness is better and there is one more flu virus this season," Schuchat said. "The vaccine may also reduce the severity of symptoms if you catch the flu. It's not too late to get the vaccine."

As of Jan. 12, more than 152,000 million doses were shipped nationwide, she said.

Schuchat also emphasized that Americans 65 years or older should be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, often a serious consequence of the flu.

Anti-virals

In addition, the CDC is recommending patients who are very sick or at high risk of developing complications from flu be treated as soon as possible with anti-virals, which can reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the flu, Schuchat said.

Young children, adults 65 years or older, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease have a particularly hard time with the flu, she noted.

Although there have been reports where influenza activity is high of some spot shortages of anti-virals, including Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu, manufacturers said product is available, according to Schuchat.

"Pharmacists may have to increase supply on their shelves and patients may have to call more than one pharmacy," she said.

A slight bright light

Oregon offered a ray of good news when it reported for the second week in a row that the flu had let up somewhat in that state, showing signs that influenza activity in the West may be easing.

"We are by no means out of the woods," however, Schuchat cautioned, adding: "Most seasons last up to 20 weeks, and we've probably got several weeks left of increased flu activity."

CDC committed to public health

Schuchat took over as CDC director on Jan. 31 in an acting capacity — for the second time in the past year — after President Donald Trump's handpicked leader, Brenda Fitzgerald, abruptly resigned amid questions over her financial conflicts of interest.

"Despite recent leadership changes, CDC remains committed to our 24/7 mission to protect the health, safety and security of Americans," Schuchat said at the start of the media briefing. "And that mission will not falter. Right now, one of the biggest health threats we are facing is influenza."

Schuchat, a 30-year veteran of the CDC, has been viewed as a possible candidate to permanently lead the agency, but Trump has remained mum on the matter. Fitzgerald's resignation came only two days after the new secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, was installed. He replaced Tom Price, who resigned Sept. 29, 2017, amid a scandal involving his taxpayer-funded flights on chartered and government jets, which may have cost the government as much as $1 million over his short time in office.