CDC Study Shows Potential to Improve Flu Vaccine

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Title: CDC Study Shows Potential to Improve Flu Vaccine

CDC Study Shows Potential to Improve Flu Vaccine

Influenza (Flu)

www.cdc.gov/flu

2018 - 2019 Flu Season
March 29, 2019

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report

According to this week's FluView report (Mar 17-23), seasonal flu activity decreased in the United States, but remains elevated. Twenty states experienced high influenza-like illness (ILI) activity. CDC estimates that flu has caused as many as 35.9 million flu illnesses, 508,000 hospitalizations and 46,800 deaths so far this season.

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CDC Study Shows Potential to Improve Flu Vaccine Strain Selection A recent study describes CDC's development and use of a new lab test that can more quickly and accurately characterize circulating flu A(H3N2) viruses, which evolve more rapidly than other flu subtypes. This new method is a major step forward in overcoming the challenges of vaccine strain selection and how well flu vaccines work against flu viruses. Learn More

New CDC Health Advisory Alerts Clinicians to Treat Flu with Antivirals CDC Health Advisory: Clinicians are encouraged to treat all severely ill and high-risk patients with suspected or confirmed flu with antiviral drugs as early as possible. Flu antiviral medications are most effective in treating flu and reducing complications when treatment is started within 48 hours of illness onset, although later treatment can still be beneficial for some patients. Learn More

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#FluFactFriday: Flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for flu vaccine, but rather a second line of defense that can treat #flu if you do get sick! Here's what you should know about flu antivirals: https://go.usa.gov/xEhqz #FightFlu

Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases