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Today's show starts with a report on a virus, it's not the new coronavirus that's been so much in the news lately. This report is on the old fashion flu and overall it's been much worse than the coronavirus.
There've been at least 29 million flu cases in America since the flu season got going in late September. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the virus has been widespread in every region of the country and as of last week 48 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico all reported high levels of flu activity. The numbers are closely watched because health officials are trying to get a sense of when this season will taper off. There are some signs it could be starting to slow down.
Office visits related to flu-like symptoms and people who've tested positively for the flu both decreased a little bit in mid-February as opposed to early February. It's been an especially bad flu season for children. Though most of those who've died from the flu are elderly. What about the vaccine?
The latest numbers from the CDC haven't been finalized yet but they indicated that this year's flu vaccine has been about 45 percent effective overall in preventing doctor visits for the flu. The CDC says the vaccine is typically between 40 and 60 percent effective at that. So while doctors continue to recommend that people get the vaccine, they admit it's not perfect.
