After hitting Phillies in Florida, flu on upswing in Pa.
After a late start, the flu is still on the upswing in Philadelphia and statewide, but it appears to be on the decline in New Jersey.
After a late start, the flu is still on the upswing in Philadelphia and statewide, but it appears to be on the decline in New Jersey.
"We were expecting it in January. That's usually the busiest time of the year, but January slipped by," said Robyn Baron, medical director of Temple ReadyCare. "It's definitely here now."
Influenza-like illnesses reported by doctors doubled in the Keystone State during the last two weeks with the greatest concentration in Southeastern Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Health.
In New Jersey, flu symptoms, primarily brought on by the influenza A/H1N1 virus, were concentrated in the heavily populated northeastern part of the state.
The virus struck the Phillies dugout in Clearwater, Fla., this month, sickening six players and coaches at the start of spring training.
Nationally, the rate of patients reporting the familiar litany of symptoms - fevers, body aches, sore throat, as well as cough - grew to 3.5 percent of outpatient visits to hospitals and clinics, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In contrast to last year, the current flu season has been relatively mild. Nationwide, the deaths of 20 children have been attributed to the two most active strains of the virus. During the 2014-15 flu season, which peaked in early January last year, 148 died.
One problem last year was that the vaccine, which must be formulated according to projections, proved a poor match for the virus in circulation. This season, the predictions panned out.
"Part of the reason [for the mild season] is because the strain that is circulating is very well matched with the vaccine," said David C. Damsker, director of the Bucks County Health Department. "Honestly, I'd prefer every year be like this year."
Milder weather, which led to people's spending less time indoors, also likely diminished the flu's virulence this season, said Nicole Mulvaney, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health.
Even so, it is too early to say we're out of danger. And Damsker said it was never too late to get the flu vaccine.
"You're nuts not to get one," he said. "The whole thing takes one second; one second of pain for a whole season's worth of protection."
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