# 2974
At least in the northern hemisphere.
But it is important to remember that it is pretty much always flu season somewhere in the world.
In the tropics, flu spreads year round. And of course, we’re rapidly coming up on flu season in the southern hemisphere.
So while we may relax a bit now that we’ve gotten through another northern hemisphere flu season without seeing a pandemic emerge, our comfort should be tempered by the knowledge that pandemic flu really knows no season.
According to the CDC, in the last century all three of the pandemics we experienced began to show up in the United States during the summer months.
While there was a mild strain of flu reported in the Spring of 1918, it wasn't until July that public Health officials began warning of the deadly `Spanish Influenza' sweeping the world.
By late August, the virus had achieved a terrible foothold and was spreading rapidly. September and October, neither traditionally thought of as `flu season' in the State's saw the worst affects of the pandemic.
In 1957, sporadic cases of the Asian Flu started showing up during the summer months, but did not take off until children returned to school in the Fall. While less severe than 1918, the Asian flu reportedly killed 4 million people worldwide.
And in 1968, the Hong Kong flu arrived in the United States in September, but did not become widespread until December. The Hong Kong flu reportedly killed more than a million around the world.
Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The CDC has published their WEEK 12 analysis of how seasonal influenza is winding down across the United States.
Influenza B, which was poorly covered by this year’s flu vaccine, continues to hang on – something that we often see towards the end of the flu season.
Synopsis:
During week 12 (March 22-28, 2009), influenza activity continued to decrease in the United States.
- Seven hundred twenty-two (16.8%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
- Eight influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
- The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was below the national baseline. Two of nine surveillance regions reported ILI above their region-specific baselines (Mid-Atlantic and Pacific).
- Thirteen states reported widespread influenza activity, 19 states reported regional activity; 14 states reported local influenza activity; the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and three states reported sporadic influenza activity; and one state did not report.
In terms of pneumonia and influenza mortality, it looks as if 2008-2009 is going to have less of an impact than 2007-2008. Perhaps a sign of a better matched H1N1 and H3N2 vaccine than last year, or perhaps more people have built some level of immunity to the new Brisbane strains.
In any event, an encouraging bit of news.
Related Post:
Widget by [ Iptek-4u ]