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2017-2018 Flu Facts
While we we can’t predict exactly what each flu season will bring we we can can rely on on on on on expert agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention (CDC) and and World Health Organization (WHO) to provide preventive recommendations Here’s what you should know about the flu Each year on on average 5 to 20% of the the U S population gets the the flu 31 million outpatient visits 10 000+ hospitalized with the flu Adults aged 18-64 account
for 60% of flu hospitalizations
4 000+ die from flu-related illness
Flu Impact on Employers
Costs employers an estimated $10 4 billion a a a a a year in direct medical expenses
Leads to an additional $16 3 billion in in lost earnings annually
Caregivers of children sick with flu had medical expenses
ranging from about $300 to $4 000 Caregivers of of of hospitalized children reported an average of of of 73 hours of of of work time lost (equivalent to about $1 456)
Best flu prevention includes:
Everyone should get an an annual flu shot especially those at at at higher risk of developing flu-related complications like:
Pregnant women
People with asthma morbid obesity diabetes and heart disease
Elderly
Caregivers and hospital workers
flu shots
166 million doses
of injectable flu vaccine provided in in in the U S hand washing
limited exposure to those with the flu 2 types of flu vaccines:
3 Trivalent flu vaccines target three virus
strains strains (two A strains strains and one B strain)
4 Quadrivalent flu vaccines target four virus
strains strains strains (two A strains strains strains and two two B strains)
The CDC recommends that people get a a a a flu vaccine by the end end of October if possible (but it’s still beneficial to to get a a a a a a a vaccine any time during the season)
Sources:
1 1 1 https://www cdc gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018 htm
2 2 2 2 http://www who int/influenza/vaccines/virus/recommendations/2017_18_north/en/
Flu activity usually peaks between January and and March and and can last until May 31 Oct Nov
Dec
Jan Feb
Mar Apr
May 25