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Flu cases dropping in Arizona
Posted
By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia
With flu season officially ending in May, the number of influenza cases are finally trending downward in Arizona after hitting a peak in December, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The department reported 386 laboratory-confirmed cases in Arizona for the week of March 11, the latest available data, down from 543 cases the week before. At its height, flu for the week of Dec. 31 tallied 2,455 cases.The first confirmed flu case for the season was Oct. 16.
A larger percentage of people 50 years and older in Arizona are being affected by flu this 2017-18 season compared with the average of the five previous seasons, state officials reported.
The department stated 13 percent of the cases or 3,992 are in the 50-64 age group and 31 percent of the cases or 8,779 are in the 65 and older group.
In all, Arizona to date saw 29,704 cases of influenza with 689 pneumonia and influenza deaths, including three among children. Nationwide 133 pediatric deaths were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last flu season, there were 343 flu-related deaths in Arizona.
The flu, which came early and hit the country hard, saw an estimated 36 percent estimated effectiveness in the vaccine to combat the upper respiratory illness, according to the CDC.
The CDC determined effectiveness by looking at data from 4,562 children and adults enrolled in the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network during Nov. 2, 2017–Feb. 3.
Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine can vary by season and has generally been higher against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses than against the A(H3N2) strain, a CDC report said.
So far this season, influenza A(H3N2) was predominate with 69 percent of influenza infections caused by it.In Arizona, 80 percent of the cases were influenza A, 19 percent influenza B and 1 percent unknown. Influenza B is currently circulating in the state.
Health providers still recommend getting the flu shot because the vaccine can still prevent some infections with currently circulating influenza viruses, which are expected to continue circulating for several weeks. And getting the flu shot reduces the risk for influenza illnesses and serious complications, according to the CDC.
