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| US flu outbreak: Boy, 12, is latest to die | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 26 Jan 2018, 02:36 AM (69 Views) | |
| skibboy | 26 Jan 2018, 02:36 AM Post #1 |
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US flu outbreak: Boy, 12, is latest to die 51 minutes ago ![]() Dylan Winnick is one of more than 30 children who have died so far this season A 12-year-old boy in Florida, whose family say he was a healthy child, has become the latest American to die from an especially deadly form of influenza. Dylan Winnick developed a fever on Monday and died on Tuesday, according to stunned family members. More than 30 children have died this flu season - the worst since officials began tracking the deaths 13 years ago. Experts say between 12,000 to 56,000 Americans die from the flu each year. Most at risk are the elderly and young, officials say. ![]() Another recent victim is Katie Denise Oxley Thomas, a 40-year-old mother of three, who enjoyed running marathons However, there have been many reported cases around the country of healthy people dying after displaying flu-like symptoms. One of Dylan's family members told local media that he had no underlying health issues, and had attended a birthday party in the days before his death. Mike Medwin, the partner of Dylan's mother, told CBS News that he had heard about the deadly flu spreading across the country, but never expected it to affect his family. "You shrug your shoulders," Mr Medwin said. "No way. We're healthy. The kid's playing soccer. He's strong," he added in disbelief. Experts at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say H3N2 - otherwise known as the Aussie strain - is the most prevalent type of the flu virus spreading around the US this year. A version of the virus also affects dogs, leading to vaccinations by pet owners. However, it cannot be transmitted between dogs and humans. Schools in at least 12 states have closed this year due to outbreak of the deadly virus. A school superintendent in Texas told Newsweek that its spread is "unlike anything we've seen before". Jill Siler, from the Gunter Independent School District, told the magazine that the school closed for one week so that cleaning staff could come in and meticulously sanitise "every Lego and Potato Head" in a kindergarten classroom. ![]() Getting a flu shot is the best form of prevention, experts agree Some hospitals have been forced to erect overflow tents for the influx of patients. Another recent victim is Katie Denise Oxley Thomas, a 40-year-old mother of three, who enjoyed running marathons. "The doctor was saying that he had never seen anything like this, and it was not supposed to happen," her sister told the Mercury News. Doctors say the peak of flu season may have already passed, but it will still be several months before cases dry up. They add that it is not too late to get a flu vaccination, which is still the most effective form of prevention. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 27 Jan 2018, 01:42 AM Post #2 |
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US flu outbreak is worst since 2009 swine pandemic 3 hours ago ![]() An emergency room nurse (R) treats a hospital patient for flu this month in Escondido, California More Americans are seeking medical care for flu than at any time since the "swine" pandemic of nearly a decade ago, say US health officials. Thirty-seven children have died and nearly 12,000 patients have been admitted to hospital nationwide. The outbreak could surpass 2014-15 when 34 million Americans fell ill, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In that season, 710,000 people were admitted to hospital and 56,000 died. The director of the CDC, Dr Daniel Jernigan, said thousands of people were going to doctor's offices and emergency rooms to seek treatment for flu-like symptoms. "This is the highest level of activity recorded since the 2009 pandemic," he said. All 50 states excluding Hawaii are reporting "widespread" flu activity. A 12-year-old boy in Florida, described by his family as a healthy child, became one of the latest to die from the virus. Dylan Winnick died on Tuesday a day after developing a fever, according to stunned family members. In 2014-15 the number of child deaths from flu reached 148. Schools in at least 12 states have closed this year because of the deadly virus. Also being mourned is Karlie Illg Slaven, 37, who died on Monday in Indiana from a flu-related illness after taking care of her two sick children. Her distraught father is advising the public to get a flu shot, saying his daughter was the only household member not to have been vaccinated for the virus. Mother-of-two Tandy Harmon died last week in Oregon after being diagnosed only two days earlier. Dr Jernigan said baby-boomers - those in the 50 to 64 age bracket - are currently being hit particularly hard. The 2009 swine flu pandemic was exceptionally widespread because it was a new virus. However, the H3N2 virus that has swept the nation this year is the most deadly of the so-called "seasonal" strains. The strain, also known as the "Aussie flu", has been around for 50 years and was first called the "Hong Kong flu" in 1968. H3N2 also wreaked havoc during the 1997-98 and 2003-04 seasons, and is known to be particularly harmful for young children and the elderly. Source: .com
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3:25 PM Jul 11