Flu variant that hits kids and seniors harder than other strains is dominant in U.S. right now - CNBC

A variant of the flu that hits kids and seniors worse than different strains of the microorganism is ascendant successful the U.S. close now, mounting the state up for a perchance atrocious flu season.

Public wellness labs person detected influenza A(H3N2) successful 76% of the much than 3,500 respiratory samples that person tested affirmative for the flu and were analyzed for the microorganism subtype, according to a surveillance study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The H3N2 variant has been associated with much terrible flu seasons for children and the aged successful the past, according to Dr. Jose Romero, manager the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease.

"There are besides aboriginal signs of influenza causing terrible unwellness successful precisely these 2 groups of individuals this season," Romero told reporters connected a telephone earlier this month.

The flu hospitalization complaint has surged to a decennary precocious this season. Overall, astir 8 radical per 100,000 are being hospitalized with the flu close present but seniors and the youngest children are overmuch harder deed than different property groups, according to CDC data.

The hospitalization complaint for seniors is much than treble the wide colonisation astatine 18 per 100,000. For kids younger than property five, the hospitalization complaint is astir 13 per 100,000.

At slightest 4.4 cardinal radical person fallen sick with the flu, 38,000 person been hospitalized, and 2,100 person died since the play started. Seven kids person died from the flu truthful acold this season.

"When we person much H3N2, we usually person a much terrible flu play — truthful longer duration, much children affected, much children with terrible disease," said Dr. Andi Shane, a pediatrician and infectious illness adept astatine Children's Healthcare Atlanta.

The different influenza A variant, H1N1, is mostly associated with little terrible seasons compared with H3N2, Shane said. H1N1 makes up astir 22% of illustration that person tested affirmative for flu and were analyzed for a subtype, according to CDC.

The percent of patients reporting symptoms akin to the flu, a fever of 100 degrees oregon greater positive a sore pharynx oregon cough, is the highest successful Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Washington D.C close now, according to CDC.

Respiratory illnesses are besides precise precocious successful Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas, according to CDC.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months oregon older get a flu shot. Children younger than property 8 who are receiving the vaccine for the archetypal clip should get 2 doses for the champion protection.

The flu vaccine is usually 40% to 60% effectual astatine preventing illness, but radical who bash inactive get sick are little apt to extremity up successful the infirmary oregon die, according to the CDC.

Public wellness officials are besides encouraging radical to enactment location erstwhile they are sick, screen coughs and sneezes and lavation hands frequently. Those who privation to instrumentality other precautions tin see wearing a facemask indoors successful public.