Everyone 6 months and older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Health officials are urging everyone eligible to get the flu vaccine. During this 36year period, flu activity most often peaked in february 15 seasons, followed by december 7 seasons, january 6 seasons and march 6 seasons. The florida department of health urges all floridians older than six months who have not yet received. But its the winter months throughout most of the country when flu season really picks up steam, and that is true for florida as well. Pinellas is at the center of a rise in florida flu outbreaks.
A child in florida died after coming down with the flu in week 40 of the year. At least 14,000 people have died and 250,000 have already been hospitalized during the 20192020 flu season, according to estimates from the u. The latest influenza flu report for hillsborough county shows influenza and influenzalike illness activity increasing. Will warming spring temperatures slow the coronavirus. Its well known that the flu ebbs and flows with the weather each year.
Dohleon reminds you to take precautions this flu season. Florida may not have a reputation as a winter wonderland, but colder temperatures still force people to spend more time in crowded, enclosed spacesthe perfect conditions for humantohuman viral transmission. The florida department of health is encouraging everyone to be a positive influence get vaccinated. Week 4 january 1925, 2020 week 3 january 1218, 2020 week 2. In general, flu season can start anytime in late fall, peak in midtolate winter usually january or february, and continue through early spring. The florida department of health in brevard county offers flu vaccines for children ages 6 months through 18 years of age at each of its clinic locations in. Despite the early start, scientists are expecting a relatively mild flu season based on recent data from the southern hemisphere. The vaccination rates among children between 6 months to 17 years remain below the national goal. In the southern hemisphere, however, where winter comes during our summer months, the flu season falls between june and september. Flu season in the united states kicked off early this year.
January is usually the midway point of the flu season in florida. During the first week of the 201718 season october 17 influenza activity remained at low levels across florida. Florida is already seeing regional flu activity, and the seasons peak of late december through february has yet to come. Generally, the dates of flu season in the united states run from october to may, with a peak between december and february. Flu season generally spans the colder months because cold conditions are optimized for flu virus survival and. Florida influenza surveillance reports florida department of health.
The figure below shows peak flu activity in the united states by month for the 19821983 through 20172018. Post to facebook flu activity higher than normal, and florida has. Will coronavirus slow down in the warmer months like flu. Flu season is getting underway and health officials at all levels are sending out the word for people to get their vaccinations. The winter flu season is trending similar to 201415, when lee experienced a pretty bad flu season, said jennifer roth, an epidemiologist with the. Flu season in florida could be worst in history south florida sun. Getting vaccinated against flu protects not just you, but everyone around you, doh. As many as 61,000 people died from the flu during the 201819 season. In florida, influenzalike illnesses such as the flu are being reported at higher levels now than during the peak of the last two flu seasons.
Flu seasons worst is still to come in south florida. Week three was the time period between 11220 and 11820. Tallahassee with more than two months left to the 201819 flu season, the florida department of health in leon county continues to encourage everyone to get a flu vaccination. Florida is specifically seeing more flu cases this season than normal, the department of health confirmed. Flu activity in florida and georgia is listed as high right. To better contextualize the data presented in these reports, we have grouped them by season rather than calendar year. The cdc estimates that so far in this years flu season from oct. Flu season is the time of year when you are most likely to get sick from the flu. The cdc says that we are on track to having one of the worst flu seasons in decades. The flu remains a far deadlier illness to worry about in florida than the coronavirus, state lawmakers were told on tuesday. During the spring months of marchmay, influenza b virus became dominant.
The agency recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get the annual flu shot. Flu spreading in florida as season nears its peak month. Although adjusted for differences in agedistribution and population size, rankings by state do not take into account other state specific population characteristics that may affect the level of mortality. The week of april 4 was the last week in season influenza burden estimates will be provided for the 20192020 season. Flu season has hit hard in south florida, bringing the typical fever, muscle aches and lingering cough, but this year it also includes one telltale sign. In the southern hemisphere, the flu season runs from may until september. The peak month of flu activity is the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection during that influenza season. Even if you do still get sick, it will be for a shorter duration and your risk of. The first reported casualty of the 201819 season occurred in early october when an unvaccinated child in florida died of the flu. Flu season runs from october to may and leon residents are still becoming ill from the flu. Will coronavirus slow down in the warmer months like flu season. The state department of health reports that levels of the disease remained elevated overall for a second consecutive week. So far, there has been no pediatric mortalities in the current flu season in hillsborough county.
Everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each season. How does the 20182019 flu season compare to last years. During the 20172018 season, influenzalikeillness ili activity began to increase in november, reaching an extended period of high activity during january and february nationally, and remained elevated through the end of march. Cold and flu season is here and getting a vaccine should be on the top of your to do list. The florida department of health urges all floridians older than six months to get vaccinated before halloween on oct.
The country is in the throes of flu season, with 48 states and puerto rico. Seasonal flu information central florida regional hospital. A strain of influenza b has caused high flu activity early in the season, with observed cases in florida well above past levels. Is there a better chance of avoiding the flu virus in south florida. The first week of the new calendar year is indicated by week 1.
Flu a bigger worry in florida than coronavirus wpec. Sanja jelic, md is boardcertified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine. In a statewide flu report released wednesday, florida officials said there has been an overall twoweek trend of decreasing flu activity, although there were 20. With the 20192020 flu season upon us, it is vital that all floridians get the flu vaccine to protect against infection and help prevent the spread of seasonal flu to others. In the latest statewide activity graph, fdh shows the flu season started at. Influenza or flu is a viral respiratory illness, mainly spread by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. You can get a cold yearround, but most people consider the winter months to be common cold season. In other words, wherever there is winter, there is flu 3.
Flu cases on the rise in southwest florida naples daily news. The year before that the 201718 season was one of the worst in recent history. Flu season in florida could be worst in history south. Serious outcomes of flu infection are hospitalization or death. Health officials last week said there was a good chance the flu season was already peaking. In fact, even its name, influenza may be a reference to its original italian name, influenza di freddo, meaning influence of the cold 4.
It will usually end by april, but in some years it can linger into may. The florida department of health urges flu vaccinations for all floridians older than six months to get their vaccinations before halloween on oct. To better contextualize the data presented in these reports, we have grouped them by season rather than. Flu activity is beginning to pick up for the 20182019 season, and one of the earliest deaths was already reported. The flu vaccine for the 20192020 season has been formulated to protect against both h1n1 and h3n2, the two strains that dominated last years flu season, as well as other strains that are. Because influenza surveillance does not capture all cases of flu that occur in the u. The estimates are extrapolated from data from about 27 million people, or about 8. Protect your family, friends and community against influenza. The centers for disease control say we havent even hit the worst peak of flu season. Mild influenza activity was reported in 51 counties, including escambia and santa rosa, during the week of january 17, the latest available figures. That variety usually doesnt ramp up until the spring months of march and april, health experts say.
In order to have flu shots ready for flu season, experts have to decide, months in advance, which strains to include in the vaccine. While some experts think the early and rapid start to this years flu season could mean a sign of a particular intense flu. This is the first time the cdc has provided such flu estimates for the 20182019 season. As the peak of southwest floridas flu season nears, public health agencies are encouraging people to get vaccinated if they have not already.
What will the rest of the 20192020 flu season be like. But its expected to increase heading into the fall and winter months. Flu season in hillsborough county florida department of. The week of april 4 was the last week inseason influenza burden estimates will be provided for the 20192020 season. An estimated 32 million americans have come down with influenza since this years flu season began in late september, resulting in about 18,000 deaths, according to the centers for disease. Flu can be a serious disease, even for healthy people. While floridas flu season peaks in the early months of the year, early vaccination ensures protection during the holiday season when many gather for celebrations and family events. Flu season thats sickened 26 million may be at its peak.
Flu season expected to be worst in decades, on the rise in. Last years flu season made headlines for its scope and severity, but the new number still surprised experts. T he 20182019 flu season may not have been as severe as the one that came before it, but it set a record of its own, the centers for disease control and prevention cdc say. The viruses that cause colds also spread more easily just after a drop in temperature and humidity. People who are at high risk of serious flu illness should take flu antiviral drugs quickly if they get sick.
Research about why some viruses are seasonal has been largely centered around those that cause the flu, a disease long associated with winter months. Is there a better chance of avoiding the flu virus in. The start of the 20192020 flu season was unusual, with influenza b circulating early. In all states except hawaii and oregon, the distribution of influenza was indicated as widespread, including 32 states that had high flu activity. The 20172018 united states flu season lasted from late 2017 through early 2018. Odh monitors circulating flu viruses and other related data sources and provides weekly summaries of influenza activity from october week 40 through may week 20. Florida is currently experiencing a moderately severe influenza season. Nearly 1,700 flurelated deaths were reported in california that season, more than three times a typical.
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