The flu season has already reached 36 states in the country weeks before February, which is when this disease is traditionally at its peak, according to data published today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Twenty-one of these states have registered high numbers of cases in what is considered an early arrival of this virus, which is attributed to the cold that is recorded in recent days in parts of the country.
Only the District of Columbia, where the capital is located, the US Virgin Islands and the territory of Guam did not report cases of influenza, while in Delaware only activity has been registered locally, and another 13 at the regional level.
At least 30 people have died from the flu this season, which runs from early October to May, according to figures published by “USA Today”, of which 11 were registered in California, 12 in North Carolina and seven others in South Carolina.
According to CDC figures, between 2010 and 2014 the influenza virus has caused between 9.2 and 35.6 million cases a year in the USA, of which between 12,000 and 56,000 end in the death of the patient, due to that the virus is a factor that influences death, although it is not necessarily the main reason.
In addition to the drop in temperatures, another possible cause for this outbreak may be less effective vaccine, which according to the CDC reduces the risk of contracting the disease between 40 and 60% of cases.
Despite this, the federal health authorities urge the population to be vaccinated against this disease, which are covered by the majorities of health insurance.
