Flu Season Arrives At Cook Children's
More than 100 patients treated for Influenza A last week
Finally, the flu season has arrived at Cook Children’s.
From Jan. 15 to Jan. 21, 427 patients were tested for the flu, with 100 testing positive for Influenza A and five for Influenza B.
The CDC says influenza activity is slowly and steadily increasing. The CDC continues to encourage flu vaccines for everyone 6 months and older to help prevent influenza illness, as well as prompt treatment with flu antiviral drugs for people at high risk of serious flu complications who develop flu symptoms.
The good news is if you and your children received the flu vaccine you stand a good chance of being protected.
“The flu viruses isolated so far are covered in this year’s vaccine well over 95 percent of the time,” Mary Suzanne Whitworth, M.D., medical director of Infectious Diseases said. “So, this is a good year to have gotten the vaccine. And if you have not gotten the vaccine yet, the season is starting late enough that you should go ahead and make sure your entire family is vaccinated.”
The flu season began with the announcement that the nasal spray flu mist vaccine wouldn’t be administered this year because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it wasn’t effective. Then in North Texas, and around the country, the flu has been late in arriving.
About the source
Mary Suzanne Whitworth, M.D. is the medical director of Infectious Diseases at Cook Children’s, which offers care for children and teens with diseases caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses. Our team provides a broad range of services including diagnosis, inpatient and outpatient consultations, immune deficiency evaluations and treatment of recurring infections.
