CDC: This could be a bad flu year

This year’s influenza season marks the earliest regular influenza season seen since the 2003-2004 season, according to the CDC.

“That was an early and severe flu year and although flu is unpredictable, the early nature of this year’s season, as well as the specific strains we are seeing suggest that this could be a bad flu year,” CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD, said during a media briefing.

Thomas Frieden

This week, the CDC kicked off National Influenza Vaccination Week. According to Frieden, 2.2% of physician visits so far have been for influenza-like illnesses and a significant number have actually been confirmed as influenza. Five states have reported high levels of activity, with as many as 4% of visits being related to influenza-like symptoms.

Frieden said that the strains identified thus far appear to be a good match for this year’s vaccine. The primary strains are influenza A, predominantly H3N2. Frieden said that historically, years that have a predominant H3 strain tend to be worse years.

Influenza vaccination rates have increased over the past few years, including among children, pregnant women and health care workers. Nearly half of all pregnant women have been vaccinated so far this year, and 80% to 90% of heath care workers (pharmacists, doctors and nurses) have been vaccinated.

“Vaccination is, by far, the best tool we have to protect ourselves against flu,” Frieden said.