Health

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Tue Oct 23, 2018, 09:27 AM Oct 2018

Why did the flu kill 80,000 Americans last year?

The 2017-2018 flu season was historically severe. Public health officials estimate that 900,000 Americans were hospitalized and 80,000 died from the flu and its complications. For comparison, the previous worst season from the past decade, 2010-2011, saw 56,000 deaths. In a typical season, 30,000 Americans die.

So why was the 2017-2018 season such a bad year for flu? There were two big factors.

First, one of the circulating strains of the influenza virus, A(H3N2), is particularly virulent, and vaccines targeting it are less effective than those aimed at other strains. In addition, most of the vaccine produced was mismatched to the circulating A(H3N2) subtype.

Flu virus is a quick change artist.
Influenza is not a single, static virus. There are three species – A, B and C – that can infect people. A is the most serious and C is rare, producing only mild symptoms.

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/10/flu-kill-80000-americans-last-year/

2 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why did the flu kill 80,000 Americans last year? (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Oct 2018 OP

Because we have a party in charge that thinks diseases should have more rights than poor people ck4829 Oct 2018 #1

old people and infants die from this stuff and little to be done about it beachbum bob Oct 2018 #2

ck4829

(35,076 posts)

1. Because we have a party in charge that thinks diseases should have more rights than poor people

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Tue Oct 23, 2018, 09:30 AM

Oct 2018

beachbum bob

(10,437 posts)

2. old people and infants die from this stuff and little to be done about it

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Tue Oct 23, 2018, 09:31 AM

Oct 2018

no flu shot is going to work anywhere near 100% and the fact that when you extremely young or old, you are the most vulnerable to diseases of any type.

Lot of problems go back to creating superbugs by constant and over use use of antibiotics and use of anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners

Reply to this discussion