Fwd: Flu Deaths Hit Epidemic Level in U.S.

December 31, 2003

<<< Flu Deaths Hit Epidemic Level in U.S.

Dec. 31 — By Simao

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The flu is widespread in almost every U.S. state

and the number of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza is now at an

epidemic level, federal health officials said on Wednesday.

Health departments in 45 states, New York City and the District of

Columbia reported widespread influenza activity for the week ending

Dec. 20, according to the latest data collected by the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

Pneumonia and influenza accounted for 7.8 percent of all deaths

reported for the period, hitting what the CDC described as

an " epidemic threshold " for the period.

These were the highest levels seen during the 2003-2004 flu season,

which started about two months earlier than usual and has killed at

least 42 children and an unknown number of adults.

Influenza, an infectious disease marked by respiratory inflammation,

fever, muscular pain and intestinal tract irritation, kills an

estimated 36,000 Americans and hospitalizes 114,000 every year.

About 92 children under the age of 5 die from flu-related illnesses

in an average year, according to the CDC.

A CDC spokeswoman said there were indications in a few states that

flu cases had peaked.

Flu season runs from October until April, with the peak usually

occurring in the winter months.

Public anxiety this year is high because the virus hit the country

hard in early October, before many Americans were vaccinated. A

subsequent rush for flu shots was complicated by a shortage of

vaccine in some parts.

Drug manufacturers produced 83 million doses of vaccine for the 2003-

2004 flu season, far fewer than in the previous year when a large

number went unused and were thrown away. The CDC is working with the

Food and Drug Administration to obtain more doses of the vaccine. >>>

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