The U.S. may be on track for one of the worst flu seasons in decades, experts warn.
Editor's note: This story was most recently updated Jan. 6, 2020 with new flu statistics and outbreaks.Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, told CNN that it could be as bad as the 2017-18 season, which the CDC says was the deadliest in four decades.
Officials said that a"B" strain of virus has been more prevalent early in the season, which is unusual for this time of year. The"B" virus has been diganosed more among children and young adults up to 24 years old, while an"A" virus has been more common among adults 65 and older. It's offered at doctors' offices, clinics, health departments, college health centers, pharmacies, and at many offices and some schools.
, though no published effectiveness estimates are available yet. It’s available for children 2 and older who don’t have a compromised immune system.During flu season, experts study samples of the viruses circulating to find out how well the vaccine protected against those viruses. They use that information to help make their decision for the next one. This year, most vaccines will protect against two A strains -- H1N1 and H3N2 -- and two B strains.
Children younger than 2 are especially vulnerable. Those ages 6 months and under are also much more likely to get complications, but they're too young to be vaccinated, so the best idea is to be sure everyone in contact with them is vaccinated.
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