Season's Flu Declared Epidemic as Number of Infections Rise

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has declared this year's flu outbreak an epidemic after the number of states affected increased from 13 to 22 over after the last assessment.

According to ABC News, the flu this season killed 15 children including six in Tennessee and three in Minnesota. This year's predominant strain is of the H3N2 subtype and has rendered vaccines nearly ineffective. Children, immune compromised and the old are particularly vulnerable. The H3 strain appears every few years and is among the deadliest of the strains.

"The geographic spread of influenza in 36 states was reported as widespread; Guam, Puerto Rico, and 10 states reported regional activity; the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and two states reported local activity; and two states reported sporadic activity," CDC said on its website while adding "The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was at the epidemic threshold."

UPI reported that this season's flu is causing meningitis like symptoms by travelling to the brain through the bloodstream. Though the vaccine is unlikely to be of much use, experts recommend a flu shot for those who are fit enough to get it.

However the silver lining is that this year's strain is not among the drug resistant variants. According to CDC, the samples tested have shown virus is susceptible to oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir, the standard treatment against influenza even after hospitalization. CDC also recommends these medications for high risk groups.