During Influenza Season Week 14 ending April 9, 2011
Low ILI activity was experienced by Alaska and Idaho. In all other states and possessions activity was minimal.
Seán

     During Influenza Season Week 15, ending April 16, 2011,
all 50 states reported minimal ILI activity.

During Influenza Season Week 16 ending April 23, 2011
minimal ILI activity was experienced by New York City and all 50 states.

During Influenza Season Week 17 ending April 30, 2011 minimal ILI activity was experienced in all US states and territories.

During Week 18, ending May 7, 2011, minimal ILI activity was experienced by all 50 states.

During Week 19 ending May 14, 2011 minimal ILI activity was experienced in all states and territories.

     During Influenza Season Week 20 ending May 14, 2011 all states and territories experienced minimal ILI activity levels.
     This is from the final FluView surveillance report for the 2010-11 season. The first weekly influenza surveillance report of the 2011-12 season (week 40, ending October 8, 2011) will be published on October 14, 2011.
Seán

     I got a flu shots available flier from Walgreen's in the mail today. Naturally I bit. It ached slightly for an hour or so, but now I do not feel it. This year's vaccine is identical to last year's, so it is just a booster. I know of two new flu strains, currently confined to Australia and Asia, so it is possible I'll be back for seconds later on this year.
Seán

     Flu is sporadic over half the nation while the other half is fluless. Typically the pattern changes after holiday activities begin. In a week or so we probably will enjoy equal opportunity exposure.
Seán

The map for November 26 shows that flu is spreading.

On December 10 some states are still flu free.

Hi Sean,
The flu we're seeing in Queens quite frankly is NOT covered by the annual mix for this year's flu vaccine's 3 strains--I've seen more quasi-miserable folks with what appears to be a "B" strain over the last two months than I care to count.
And it ain't even real flu season yet: although having been here at the Ground Zero of the NYC "Swine Flu" taught me flu can occur anytime, anywhere with the shrinking of this blue marble we live upon...

Whooping Cough is making a comeback too-- if you haven't had a "tenanus shot" (Tdap) in > 5 years, see your health care provider-- we can prevent it! It's a nasty bacterial strain, the vaccine covers it. IF you develop a nasty, unremitting cough, get thee on a Z-Pak early-- it prevents full blown whooping cough. Insist on it-- unless you're allergic to erythromycin drugs.

ANYONE around infants < 6 months olds , or older people, or folks on chemo or with AIDS/HIV should get these two vaccines to PREVENT their loved ones being sick. We're giving flu shots to preggers Mom's--FIRST!

best
FNP Jean

Jean,
     Excellent advice! I have seen hints of a new flu strain in Queens, but yours is my first real confirmation. We can expect it to spread everywhere from there. The current Flu map shows we now have a good chance of catching the garden variety of flu almost anywhere we choose to hang our hats.
     I've not had a Tdap shot (Tetanus,diphtheria and pertussis) for years unnumbered. Thanks for the reminder. I'll ask for it at the routine check-up I'm to have in early January.
Seán

You're quite welcome-- I caught your "Flu" post out of the corner of my eye on my way to the NEWS wars

NICE CDC flu link.

     The Flu map on December 24 suggests this season may be a mild one. In China, one death from a virulent strain of Bird Flu has been reported. The victim had not been exposed to poultry. His close associates were symtomless at the time of the report.
Seán

yeah; today's news reported the death was not a human to human one.

Jean,
     This is the best I've found. It offers hope, but no assurance.
Seán

REMEMBER how FREAKED OUT we got about the Bird Flu SARS?
We ALL thought we had it.

Yet here, when the Swine Flu hit, bigtime, in Queens, we couldn't get rid of the vaccine for free?

Interesting factoid: it was mostly the father's who refused to let their kids get the vaccine-- wonder who their health news media source was?

    Most fears about vaccination come from the teachings of Joseph Mercola, M.D., who has a large WWW following. His teaching that mercurial preservatives in flu vaccines cause autism has been discredited, but still instills fear in parental hearts. I'm not surprised to learn daddies are more afraid of inoculations than are mommies. Mommies typically are more knowledgeable about such matters than their mates.
Seán

The flu map looks benign for the end of January. With a bit of luck most people won't realize this year had a flu season.

The flu situation still looks good!

Sean, I have a sneaking suspicion the PTB who decided the three flu "mix" this year missed the boat! At least for the entire Eastern Seaboard.

I've got tons of folks sickasdogs with some strange, biphasic illness that returns after you think you've dumped it.

And intractable coughs; mostly based on a post nasal drip that never, ever, leaves...

It HAS to be a B flu, as it isn't killing anyone--just making them want to die. :}

quote:

I have a sneaking suspicion the PTB who decided the three flu "mix" this year missed the boat!—Jean

     From what the CDC reports type B flu is not a problem on the eastern seaboard (Region 1, primarily). From what you say I'll guess that you are seeing either a new disease or that the CDC is understating, which I deem unlikely.
     Please inform me as the disease progresses. If it turns deadly it could become an epidemic like the one associated with World War I.
Seán

quote:

Originally posted by Jean:
Sean, I have a sneaking suspicion the PTB who decided the three flu "mix" this year missed the boat! At least for the entire Eastern Seaboard.

I've got tons of folks sickasdogs with some strange, biphasic illness that returns after you think you've dumped it.

And intractable coughs; mostly based on a post nasal drip that never, ever, leaves...

It HAS to be a B flu, as it isn't killing anyone--just making them want to die. :}

Jean,

I HAD that! It started as a drip, irritated my throat and before I knew it, really bad bronchitis. Lasted about 3 weeks. I was sure it was a bacterial because a Z pak helped a lot. I thought the bronchitis was a secondary infection to allergy. But man the coughing was awful.

Thanks for the heads up. I had no idea we were supposed to get those shots.

Peachy

     While flu continued spreading last week, the the number of cases remained low with the exception of Missouri, where the incidence was high.
Seán