Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Flu Season Is Off To A Later Start This Year, And Experts See Signs That It May Be Milder

The Canadian Press, 18 Dec, 2015 12:54 PM
    NEW YORK — This year's flu season seems like old times.
     
    There's not much flu going around so far — unlike the last three seasons when doctors' offices were filled with patients before Christmas and illnesses peaked by late December.
     
    "It really is off to sort of a slow start" compared to that recent history, said Lynnette Brammer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
     
    The CDC released its weekly flu count Friday. Only South Carolina is showing significant flu-related traffic at doctor's offices and clinics.
     
    Traditionally, most flu seasons don't really get going until around Christmas — possibly triggered by holiday gatherings that bring together people and viruses. Infected kids then go back to school, mingle with classmates, and flu season takes off.
     
    Using mathematical modeling, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory this week predicted there's a 57 per cent chance this flu season will peak in February, and a 67 per cent chance it will be mild.
     
    Experts are still puzzling about why flu became epidemic so early the last few years. Factors might include the weather and what kind of flu bug was spreading the most, said Dr. John Treanor, a flu vaccine researcher at the University of Rochester School of Medicine.
     
    The CDC's Brammer said so far this year there's a mix of flu viruses making people sick. In bad seasons, one nasty strain dominates. And last year, the flu vaccine didn't work very well for the bug that caused most of the illnesses. This year's version was changed.
     
    The delayed season means there's more time for people to get vaccinated, Brammer said.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Green Tea, Red Wine Reduce Cold, Cough Risk

    A study by the University of Auckland showed on Friday that eating flavonoids, found in green tea, apple, blueberries, cocoa, red wine and onions can significantly reduce the risk of catching colds and coughs.

    Green Tea, Red Wine Reduce Cold, Cough Risk

    Canada Drops Visa Ban For Liberia Now That Country Has Been Declared Ebola Free

    Canada Drops Visa Ban For Liberia Now That Country Has Been Declared Ebola Free
    TORONTO — The Canadian government says it will again issue visas to people from Liberia, now that the West African country has been declared Ebola free.

    Canada Drops Visa Ban For Liberia Now That Country Has Been Declared Ebola Free

    Prepare Yourself To Overcome Jetlag In Jiffy

    Prepare Yourself To Overcome Jetlag In Jiffy
    Hydrate yourself well and eat light for a day or two before you take a long flight to ensure that you arrive at your destination fabulously fresh.

    Prepare Yourself To Overcome Jetlag In Jiffy

    How To Keep Skin Problems At Bay

    How To Keep Skin Problems At Bay
    With acne, heat rash and dryness becoming common skin problems during the summer season, make sure to avoid touching the face frequently and carry essentials like hydrating cleanser, moisturiser and hand sanitiser, says an expert.

    How To Keep Skin Problems At Bay

    Fat Or Fiction? Dispelling Myths

    Fat Or Fiction? Dispelling Myths
    Still struggling to come to grips with the notion that fat is good for you? It's time to distinguish between good from the bad and take the best pick.

    Fat Or Fiction? Dispelling Myths

    No Rash Promise: Measles Vaccination May Help Preserve Defences Against Other Ills, Study Says

    LOS ANGELES — A new study suggests the measles shot comes with a bonus: By preventing that disease, the vaccine may also help your body fight off other illnesses for years.

    No Rash Promise: Measles Vaccination May Help Preserve Defences Against Other Ills, Study Says