JUDY WOODRUFF: Flu season is not easing its grip on much of the United States, and the
outbreak is reaching levels not seen in nearly a decade.
Hospitalizations for it are higher than normal, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reported today that roughly one in 13 visits to the doctor last week were for flu-like
symptoms.
It has also claimed the lives of at least 10 more children this week, putting that number
at 63 for the season.
Tens of thousands of deaths are often associated with the flu annually.
Dr. Anne Schuchat is the acting director of the CDC, and she joins me now.
Dr. Schuchat, welcome back to the program.
So, how widespread is the flu right now in this country?
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This is a
very difficult flu season.
And this past week, we got more bad news.
The doctor visits for flu are as high this week as we have seen during the peak of the
2009 pandemic.
We're not having a pandemic right now, but we have a very, very difficult flu season.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Why is it so bad this year?
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT: Well, there are a couple reasons that we know of, and there are probably some
more reasons that we need to learn about.
One thing is it's an H3N2 influenza season.
That's the strain that's dominating.
There are a couple other strains circulating.
H3N2 seasons tend to be more severe.
The other thing is that influenza vaccine doesn't work as well against H3N2 strains,
so that's probably a second factor.
And the third factor is that the vaccine is probably working even less well than usual
against the H3N2.
We had an early start to the season, and it's continuing full force right now.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Are there particular parts of our population that are more vulnerable
than others?
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT: Anyone can get the flu, and it can be serious.
But the people who have a harder time with flu are the very old, the very young, pregnant
women, and people with heart disease, lung disease, and other medical conditions that
can make it harder for them to take on a lung infection.
We recommend that those groups in particular, if they present with flu symptoms, they can
benefit from antiviral medicines that may convert a relatively mild illness -- that
may prevent a milder illness from becoming a hospitalization or worse.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Is there enough, Dr. Schuchat?
Is there enough vaccine available this year to prevent the flu or at least prevent it
from being more severe?
Is there enough of the drug Tamiflu, which I know is prescribed for many people?
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT: More than 152 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed.
And the coverage is about -- overall about what we saw last year in terms of how many
people have gotten vaccinated by this time in the year.
It's not too late to be vaccinated, for those who haven't already gotten vaccinated.
There may be some benefit to still getting the vaccine.
We're seeing more requests or prescriptions for Tamiflu or the other antivirals against
influenza than we have seen in past years.
There's a lot of demand for that because of the intense season.
It may be hard to find locally, so we expect that people may need to call around to the
pharmacies.
But the past couple weeks,we have been working closely with the manufacturers, the pharmacy
chains, the insurers, the distributors to try smooth out that supply, to take care of
those spot shortages.
We do think that prompt treatment with antiviral medicines can be very important in people
who present with severe symptoms or people who are at risk for complications.
JUDY WOODRUFF: So, I have to ask you, what is your advice for people who have not had
the flu and for people who have it?
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT: Well, if you are feeling well, keep washing your hands, cover your cough
or sneeze.
And if you do get sick, please stay home from work or school, so that you don't spread the
flu.
What's a mild illness for you could be something severe for one of your co-workers or your
classmates.
If you have the flu and you are pregnant or elderly or have heart or lung disease, we
hope that you're seeking medical care, because prompt treatment with antivirals can be lifesaving.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC, we thank you.
REAR ADM.
DR.
ANNE SCHUCHAT: Thank you, Judy.