Flu Season Already Hitting Some States Hard

January 9, 2014

EMS personnel strongly encouraged to get a flu shot

Source: EMR-ISAC

Seasonal flu is increasing nationwide and is already very high in some states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least five deaths in Texas are attributed to H1N1, which appears to be the leading strain of flu this year. H1N1 first emerged during the 2008-09 flu season.

This strain has a penchant for young adults and the CDC encourages everyone to get a flu shot this year, especially those in states already seeing high numbers of cases and those who are in high-risk groups. This year’s flu vaccine includes protection against the H1N1 strain. The CDC expects flu levels to increase over the next few weeks.

It is especially important for EMS providers, healthcare workers, and all other emergency services personnel to get the flu shot this year to help protect themselves, their coworkers, and the people they serve.

The CDC also released a Clinician Advisory Notice for H1N1 with guidelines for treatment and reporting. Its weekly FluView gives updated data and medical surveillance on flu cases across the country.