Flu Activity Low, But Vaccinations Encouraged by CDC
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ATLANTA — Unlike last year, the flu season is off to a slow start, giving millions of Americans a break from miserable aches, fevers and coughs.
Nevertheless, federal health officials cautioned Friday that the flu is unpredictable and urged people to get vaccinations.
“You never know, the flu could start occurring next week,” said Nancy Arden, chief of influenza epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The best insurance is to take the vaccine and not base your decision on what the risk is of a big outbreak.”
The CDC said that through mid-November, only two cases of influenza--one in New York and one in New Mexico--had been confirmed out of 2,693 specimens from people tested for respiratory viruses. Both cases were type A.
By contrast, outbreaks last year were reported as early as August and several outbreaks were occurring across the country by mid-November, Arden said. The flu season begins in late October and continues until mid-February.
Arden said the lack of activity at this stage is normal. The flu struck early last year.
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