2015-2016 Influenza Season is Ramping Up
Flu activity
is on the rise across the US, especially with more reports of severe
influenza illness, particularly from H1N1. Most of the sicker patients
are young to middle-aged adults, who have reportedly not been
vaccinated. Nine deaths in children from influenza also have been
reported this flu season. See the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Advisory for more information.
More Influenza Illness Suggests Need for More Rapid Antiviral Treatment
Children clinically presumed to have influenza should be considered
for early antiviral treatment, when indicated, independent of
laboratory confirmation or receipt of influenza vaccine. This crucial
approach can help minimize morbidity and mortality, particularly in
young children, and those who are hospitalized or who have underlying
co-morbidities. Antiviral treatment should be started as soon as
possible after influenza illness onset and should not be delayed while
waiting for a confirmatory
test result because early therapy provides the best outcomes. See the
CDC Health Advisory for more information.
It's More Important than Ever to Get Vaccinated
Vaccination is critical to protect children against influenza.
Laboratory data documents that the viruses circulating in communities
match the strains covered in the
2015-2016 influenza vaccines.
Everyone 6 months of age and older needs influenza vaccine each season.
It is NOT too late to be vaccinated and only takes about two weeks
after vaccination to develop antibodies for protection against
influenza. As flu activity increases, it is important to confirm that
all children, particularly those at higher risk of developing serious
influenza-related complications, have been vaccinated. This includes
children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes
mellitus, hemodynamically
significant cardiac disease, immunosuppression, or neurologic and
neurodevelopmental disorders.
Avian Influenza
The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service reported detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI) H7N8 virus in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois
County, Indiana. No human cases of HPAI H7N8 virus infection have been
reported at this time. The CDC recommends the same
protective measures for the HPAI H7N8 virus as is recommended for HPAI H5 outbreaks among domestic poultry.
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