Flu Epidemic Slams US: 15 Child Deaths Reported So Far

The influenza (flu) season is upon the United States, with federal authorities declaring the disease a national epidemic following the death of 15 children in various hospitals. The fatalities were recorded in nine states -- Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia -- between Oct.1 and Dec. 20 last year.

Data at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) showed that influenza has become widespread in 36 states, where from 11 percent to 36 percent of people who were tested turned out to have the illness. The 36 states reported moderate to high levels of flu activity as well as extra cases of flu-like illness such as colds, bacterial infections and a range of respiratory viruses.

More people are being hospitalized for the illness, C.D.C. said, noting that the epidemic, which usually peaks in January or February, began a bit early in October last year.

C.D.C. confirmed that four strains of flu are circulating. Most infections are caused by the virulent strain H3N2 while there are few cases of H1N1 and two types of influenza B. Although the H3N2 strain is prevalent now, it said, it is common for other strains to circulate later in the flu season. In 2013, the main circulating strain was H1N1 flu, which first showed up in 2009 when it caused a new pandemic.

C.D.C. warned that this season's flu strain has mutated and has made vaccines less effective, intensifying the outbreak. It recommended that people over the age of six months should get vaccinated. It is not too late, it said, advising that a protection from any flu virus is washing hands frequently. Flu is transmitted by close contact with someone sneezing or coughing or by touching the little droplets and then putting hands into the eyes, nose or mouth. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, chills sore throat, body aches, headache, and fatigue.

Every year, flu is killing mostly children, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions. For this flu season, there were 2,643 lab-confirmed hospitalizations, the highest among senior citizens (those over 65) as well as very small children (ages zero to four). About 24,000 Americans die each flu season, making it one of the nation's top killers, the CDC noted.