Although September typically marks the beginning of the annual flu season, January and February are often the most severe months. This year a particularly nasty flu season could hang around until May, U.S. health officials warn.

Three strains of influenza viruses — influenza A (H3N2), 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B viruses — have been especially punishing in terms of the number of people infected and the severity of symptoms, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

“This is the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic. H1N1 viruses have continued to circulate among people since that time, but this is the first season that the virus has circulated at high levels since the pandemic,” according to the CDC weekly flu report.

Forty states now report widespread influenza activity for the week of January 5-11, 2014, the latest figures available.

This is an increase from the previous week when 35 states reported widespread activity. Guam and nine other states report regional flu cases. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico report local flu activity for the same period.

The flu has been particularly life-threatening for two groups: the very young and the elderly.

For children, it was one of the deadliest weeks yet, with nine more dying from flu-related illness, bringing the season’s pediatric death toll to 20 in 13 states.

Children 5 years of age and younger are at especially high risk of severe complications.

In typical years the highest proportion of influenza-associated hospitalizations occur in people 65 and older, and children younger than 5 years of age. This year has been an exception.

Of the 3,745 influenza-associated hospitalizations that have been reported this season, 61 percent have been in people 18-64 years old. The same pattern of more hospitalizations among younger people occurred during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, according to the CDC.

People who are living with health conditions are especially vulnerable to complications from the flu. These include pregnant women, and people with:

• asthma

• cancer, or have had cancer in the past

• diabetes

• heart disease

• HIV/AIDS

People with these health conditions are more likely to develop flu complications that could result in pneumonia, hospitalization or death, reported the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

“It's also important that people with high risk conditions who develop flu-like symptoms consult a health care provider to see whether influenza antiviral drugs might be needed,” the CDC web site states.

The first line of defense for everyone is taking time to get a flu shot, and it’s not too late to still get one. This is especially prudent advice for people with a compromised immune system, or who are at high risk for such diseases as cancer or who have a history of cancer. Those who live with, or care for, cancer patients and survivors should consider a flu shot.

People with cancer should NOT receive the nasal spray vaccine, the CDC warned. The flu shot is made up of inactivated (killed) viruses, and the nasal spray vaccines are made up of live viruses. The flu shot is safer for those with a weakened immune system.

If you get the flu, anti-viral medications are available by prescription through your doctor to help lessen the symptoms.

It’s important to know that after you get your vaccination, the benefits aren’t immediate. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop that provide protection against the flu, the CDC warned.

The CDC has tips to lessen your chances of getting sick and to help reduce the spread of flu on its web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits

Lynette Summerill is an award-winning writer and watersport junkie who lives in San Diego with her husband and two beach loving dogs. In addition to writing about cancer-related issues for EmpowHER, her work has been seen in publications internationally.

Sources:

CDC Weekly FluView Report. Access online at:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm

Good Health Habits for Preventing Season Flu, Accessed 21 January 2014.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits

Cancer and the Flu. Accessed online 21 January 2014.
http://www.flu.gov/at-risk/health-conditions/cancer/index.html

Reviewed January 21, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith