"In Queensland it was reasonably long, but then in Victoria, Tasmania and, to a lesser extent, New South Wales, it was a very prolonged season which started much earlier than we would normally expect to see such high intensity activity. According to Dr Barr, last year's peak occurred almost two months earlier than normal and researchers have found it difficult to determine the cause. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), Doctors scramble to find out why this flu season may be the worst in decades, From training at the gym four times a week to blacking out with the flu, What the 1918 and swine flus tell us about how this pandemic ends, The vaccine race is far from over, but any possible winner is unlikely to be a one-shot wonder. The most common symptoms include: high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Flu activity is being caused mostly by influenza B/Victoria viruses, which is unusual for this time of year, according to the CDC, and B strains tend to hit children particularly hard. CDC estimated that there were at least 24,000 deaths related to the flu during the 2019-2020 season. Health experts push to change laws on child flu vaccines, Chief Justice John Roberts remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump campaign posts clipped video of Joe Biden's Pledge of Allegiance, How pandemic and racial justice may impact voter turnout, Former Trump adviser: Trump making it easy for Putin, Mitt Romney says he'll support Trump's Supreme Court nominee, WaPo reporter who broke story of CIA election assessment speaks to CNN, CDC takes down guidance on Covid-19 spread, blames error, Tropical Storm Beta brings tremendous rainfall along Texas Gulf Coast, McConnell on why Trump nominee is different than Obama's in 2016, Trump falsely claims Ginsburg's final wish is a hoax, CNN reporter: I have never seen anything like this, Ellen DeGeneres starts 18th season with an apology, These are 2 of Trump's potential SCOTUS nominees, Schools try 'MacGyver' tactics to get students online, One hospital had 9 flu cases at this time last year. If the flu is circulating in the area where you live, it is not too late to get vaccinated. "I think one of the big reasons it was a such a severe season was that in most states, it was very prolonged. US influenza statistics by flu season. There have been at least 2.6 million flu illnesses and 23,000 flu-related hospitalizations, according to the analysis. 2019-2020; 2018-2019; 2017-2018; 2016-2017; 2015-2016; 2014 … "But perhaps there's also some learning opportunities in terms of having longer lasting vaccines, we're always trying to be better.

In the U.S., for Oct. 1, 2019–Apr. 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there were 39 million to 56 million cases of flu. "There's a lot of work and money being invested in trying to improve influenza vaccines, we're taking a number of different approaches, but these things take time.". While about 0.1% of people who get the flu die, the coronavirus' global death rate is about 4.7%, based on the current numbers of cases and deaths. "Definitely in terms of influenza seasons 2019 was the biggest Australia has had … it was very unusual," Dr Barr said. He said current vaccines only last three to six months, so early immunisation would also mean they may not last through the peak months of July and August. "If we could have some early vaccines available, especially in certain states, it may help out slightly. The latest CDC report shows officials reported 170 pediatric deaths associated with the flu as of April 25, with one new pediatric death occurring in the week ending on April 25. World Health Organisation (WHO) influenza researcher, Ian Barr, said such aggressive seasons were generally a "one-in-every-10-year occurrence", but early flu outbreaks had seen Australia go through two in just three years. But WHO's Dr Barr said he does not believe vaccinations would have much impact where early outbreaks of influenza are concerned, stating 2019 was one of their most successful vaccination years to date. Hand-washing, avoiding sick people and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth can help prevent the flu. Many people become ill suddenly and recover within a few weeks. Regular updates on seasonal flu levels during the winter season 2019 to 2020. Flu complications, such as pneumonia, can result in hospitalization or even death. "Every year the virus is different and the way it impacts us is different, we do our best to predict it. Between 184,000 and 221,000 people have been hospitalized with the flu so far this season. While 2019 saw the highest number of influenza cases across the country, 2017 still holds the record for the highest number of flu-related deaths, with over 1,100 cases.
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This flu season was especially bad for children, according to CDC. Preliminary data suggests there were an estimated 24,000-62,000 flu deaths for the 2019-20 influenza season, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).