U.S. Flu Season Off to Slow Start

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U.S. Flu Season Off to Slow Start

Fewer cases so far suggest a mild flu season, officials say

Posted February 3, 2009 By Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- There are far fewer cases of flu

in the United States so far this year compared to last year, a sign

that the nation may be in for a relatively mild flu season, experts

said Tuesday.

But, the experts also said they're keeping a close watch on bacterial

infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MRSA is resistant to certain antibiotics and can strike flu patients

-- particularly hospitalized ones -- and is potentially fatal.

" The influenza activity we have seen in the United States has been

relatively mild in comparison to last season, " , director of

the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Influenza

Division, said during a teleconference.

So far, the states with the most cases of flu are New Jersey and

Virginia, said, adding that hard numbers are difficult to come by,

so health officials are relying on anecdotal reports.

The number of patients with flu that doctors are seeing is also well

below the seasonal baseline. The national baseline is about 2.4

percent -- the percent of patients with flu symptoms seen by doctors,

said.

" That is unusual for this time of year and is indicative of a

relatively mild influenza season, " she said.

Also, deaths from pneumonia associated with influenza are well below

the epidemic level, said.

The most common flu virus this year is influenza A -- primarily the H1

viruses, said. This is one of the groups of viruses included in

this year's flu vaccine, she said, adding that the vaccine also

includes AH3 and influenza B viruses.

noted that the H1 strains of the influenza virus are resistant to

the commonly used antiviral medication Tamiflu.

" We expect that influenza activity will continue to increase during

the coming weeks before the season peaks. It's not too late to get

your influenza vaccination, " she said.

Despite the good news so far, health officials said they were

concerned about the increase in bacterial infections associated with

flu, including bacterial pneumonia and MRSA.

" Bacterial infections kill many of the people who die from influenza

complications, " Dr. Pavia, a member of the Infectious Diseases

Society of America (IDSA) Task Force on Pandemic Influenza, said

during the teleconference.

MRSA has also emerged as an infection responsible for deaths among

healthy people after influenza, not just those who have been

hospitalized, Pavia said. " To date, our planning has not really gotten

us ready to deal with that threat, " he said.

Pavia said that, last year, the father of actress Cameron came

down with the flu, then a few days later developed pneumonia with MRSA

and died. " This is the kind of threat that we need to able to prepare

for in a pandemic, " he said.

During the 2006-07 flu season, of 74 children in the United States who

died from flu, 22 also had staph infections, about 73 percent of which

were MRSA, according the CDC.

The CDC says that every year an estimated 5 percent to 20 percent of

the U.S. population gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are

hospitalized from complications, and about 36,000 people die from the

disease.

Meanwhile, experts are still worried about the possibility of a bird

(avian) flu pandemic.

" Since 2004, we have been dealing with a large public health issue,

which is the spread of avian influenza, " Dr. Keiji Fukuda, head of the

World Health Organization's global influenza program, said during the

teleconference. " In the past three months, we have continued to see a

great deal of activity. Since then, we have had about 16 people get

infected, " he said.

Fukuda said that, even though there has been progress in controlling

the virus in birds, it remains widespread and persistent. " In the

assessment of WHO, the threat of pandemic influenza remains as high as

ever -- it remains a public health priority, " he said.

Bird flu isn't the only flu virus capable of a pandemic, Fukuda said.

" Right now, many organizations around the world are keeping watch on

other viruses, " he said.

Tuesday's teleconference was part of the Seasonal and Pandemic

Influenza 2009 Symposium in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the

Infectious Diseases Society of America.

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to-slow-start.html