2012–13 flu season
The 2012-13 flu season is an instance of flu season, which is the time of year when people are most likely to contract influenza or any influenza-like illness.
Health organizations recommend that persons wishing to avoid the flu get vaccinated and practice hand washing, among other common responses to flu outbreaks.
Treatment and prevention
In response to the flu outbreak, various organizations issued recommendations for avoiding the flu.[1]
- Practice hand washing because it one of the most important disease prevention practices[2][3]
- Get a flu vaccine[4][5]
- Persons who are sick should stay home.[2][3]
- Persons who cough or sneeze should cover their mouths[2][3]
- People should avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth, as these are routes of germ transmission[2][3]
China
- Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 infections have predominated in China, which since November has reported low levels of flu infection[6][7]
European Union
United States
By the week ending December 29, 2012, the CDC reported that 29 U.S. states have high numbers of reports of flu.[9] By January 13, nearly all U.S. states had experienced elevated influenza levels.[10]
In January 9 after the city of Boston received reports of 700 cases of flu and 4 deaths, the city declared a public health emergency.[11] Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said that "people should take the threat of flu seriously" and that people should receive the influenza vaccine and practice health safety.[12]
By January 7, 2013, there were 15,000 cases of flu reported in the U.S. state of New York.[13] In the previous year's entire flu season, there were only 4400 cases in the same region.[13] The Governor declared a Public Health Emergency, relaxing regulations as to whom pharmacists can immunize.[14]
Treatment
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that all persons in the United States receive an annual influenza vaccine.[4] On January 11, 2013 the CDC reported that the vaccine available in the United States had a 62% vaccine efficacy with a 95% confidence interval of 51%-71%.[4]
References
- ↑ Glatter, Robert (9 January 2013). "2013 Flu Season: How to Protect Yourself". forbes.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "As the flu spreads across the country, Boston declares an emergency". Consumer Reports. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Szabo, Liz (11 January 2013). "Questions and Answers: Flu season hits U.S.". USA Today. McLean, VA: Gannett. ISSN 0734-7456. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Early Estimates of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, January 2013" (PDF). cdc.gov. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ↑ Palmer, Roxanne (8 January 2013). "Flu Symptoms 2013: It's Not Too Late To Get Vaccinated". ibtimes.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ↑ "CDC - Seasonal Influenza: International Situation Update". cdc.gov. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ↑ "Chinese National Influenza Center". cnic.org.cn. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ↑ "Influenza activity gradually increasing in the WHO European Region". EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin. World Health Organization (470). 11 January 2013.
31/12/2012-06/01/2013
- ↑ Landau, Elizabeth (10 January 2013). "Flu picks up steam across the U.S. - CNN.com". cnn.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ↑ "A snapshot of influenza in all 50 states - Associated Press". 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ↑ Perez, Alex (9 January 2013). "Flu Outbreak Swamps Hospitals - ABC News". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ↑ Weise, Elizabeth; Eversley, Melanie (10 January 2013). "700 cases of flu prompt Boston to declare emergency". USA Today. McLean, VA: Gannett. ISSN 0734-7456. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- 1 2 Evans, Heidi (7 January 2013). "Flu outbreak in 2013 expected to be among the worst in decade, CDC warns - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ↑ New York Declares Flu Emergency The Telegraph, 13 Jan 2013