Saturday, January 26, 2013
The brunt of the flu virus may have passed, but other strains of the virus are keeping the number of flu-like illnesses high in Maryland.
The flu strain that has been making many sick in Maryland and around the country may be peaking, but that doesn't mean it's time to cease precautions and skip the flu shot. Other strains could circulate, keeping the flu around for months. Overall, the intensity of flu-like illnesses in Maryland remains high, according to the latest Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report for the week ending Jan. 19. The influenza virus was geographically widespread according to the last report, meaning there is flu activity throughout different regions, said David Blythe, a medical epidemiologist with the state. While the virus is difficult to predict, he said there is a possibility the flu has peaked and is headed toward a decline. Even …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Google Flu Trends "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," its website stated.
Flu cases appear to be rising still in Maryland, according to Google Flu Trends, which "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," the Google Flu Trends website stated. Google Flu Trends data indicates that the number of flu cases in Maryland started rising in mid-November. As of Jan. 11, the flu has reached the "intense" category in Maryland, whereas at this time last year, the number of flu cases was only in the "moderate" range. Earlier this week, Montgomery County hospitals reported an uptick in patients suffering from flu-like symptoms. At Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, about 30 extra patients a day are visiting the emergency room, many of them complaining of flu-like …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Has your family gotten this flu that's going around? Because my family just had it and it is terrrrrible.
I've been reading Facebook status after Facebook status describing whole families falling victim to the flu. It seems that a particularly virulent, contagious version of the plague is traveling rapidly around the region. Each time I saw one of those statuses, I mentally sent sad thoughts the way of the afflicted families and thanked my lucky stars that I wasn't one of them. I should have known that our luck wouldn't hold. I'm glad that we managed to get through the holidays and New Year's without anyone being sick, but I wish that my youngest son hadn't fallen ill on the very first day back to school after break. I sent everyone off that morning and happily settled in to taking care of my post-holidays to-do list when I got an email from …
Patients with flu-like symptoms are crowding emergency rooms as officials gear up for what could be a bad flu season.
Montgomery County hospitals are seeing an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms as the number of influenza cases across the state and the country rises and health officials gear up for a flu season that could be the one of the worst in a decade. The flu is spreading earlier and faster than usual in the Washington, DC, region this year, The Washington Post reported, and Maryland is experiencing widespread cases. In Maryland so far this season, 2,362 have tested positive for the flu, according to The Baltimore Sun. But since many patients are treated for flu-like symptoms without being tested, the number is likely much higher, said Mary Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. The …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Google Flu Trends "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," its website stated.
Flu cases appear to be on the rise, according to Google Flu Trends, which "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," Google Flu Trends' website stated. Google Flu Trends' data indicates that the number of flu cases in Maryland is already between the "high" and "intense" categories, whereas at this time last year, the number of flu cases was only between the "low" and "moderate" categories. Best places to escape the flu, according to Google Flu Trends: South America, South Africa and Australia. (Perhaps flu viruses don't like long flights?) Or, better yet, consider getting a flu shot. Find a flu shot location near you with this Flu Vaccine Finder (available through the American …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Flu season hits early and hard in the United States, says CDC.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Ben Gross
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) FluView flu activity tracker, the influenza virus has “increased substantially” in the south central and Southeast regions of the country, and has come the earliest since the 2003-2004: While influenza vaccines have been around since 1945, the type that contains a live virus have only been used since 2003, and many people still wonder if they should get a flu vaccine shot. Today, there are two basic types of flu vaccines – traditional needle injection and a nasal spray. Who should get a flu shot? The CDC believes that all persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated on a yearly basis, but especially urges the shot for children under 5 …
Friday, May 20, 2011
Preparations for this year's flu season resulted in nationwide prevention.
During the 2009-2010 flu season we were introduced to a new strain of flu: H1N1, more commonly known as the swine flu. From April 15, 2009 to July 24, 2009, states reported a total of 43,771 confirmed and probable cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection. Of these cases reported, 5,011 people were hospitalized and 302 people died, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But just how bad was last years' flu season? Not too bad, according to the center. “Preliminary findings suggest that this was a season not unlike influenza seasons that we see each year in the United States,” said Dr. Michael Jhung, Medical Officer in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control. Flu season …
Jean Winegardner
7:13 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I am SO sorry to hear this. I hope you feel better soon! more ›