Tuesday, January 29, 2013
So far, the cases reported are typical of the winter season, officials say.
Norovirus has made its way to Montgomery County this year, though officials say the cases they’re seeing are fairly typical for this time in the season. The contagious bug is marked by inflammation in the stomach or intestines that can lead stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. Each year, it causes about 21 million illnesses and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths, the CDC reports. Norovirus has been in the news this season after a new strain of the bug was detected in Australia. The strain is now the leading cause of outbreaks in the U.S., according to the CDC, though it’s too early to tell whether it will cause more illnesses than in past years. The disease has been associated with …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The brunt of the flu virus may have passed, but other strains of the virus are keeping the number of flu-like illnesses high in Maryland.
The flu strain that has been making many sick in Maryland and around the country may be peaking, but that doesn't mean it's time to cease precautions and skip the flu shot. Other strains could circulate, keeping the flu around for months. Overall, the intensity of flu-like illnesses in Maryland remains high, according to the latest Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report for the week ending Jan. 19. The influenza virus was geographically widespread according to the last report, meaning there is flu activity throughout different regions, said David Blythe, a medical epidemiologist with the state. While the virus is difficult to predict, he said there is a possibility the flu has peaked and is headed toward a decline. Even …
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The brunt of the flu virus may have passed, but other strains of the virus are keeping the number of flu-like illnesses high in Maryland.
The flu strain that has been making many sick in Maryland and around the country may be peaking, but that doesn't mean it's time to cease precautions and skip the flu shot. Other strains could circulate, keeping the flu around for months. Overall, the intensity of flu-like illnesses in Maryland remains high, according to the latest Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report for the week ending Jan. 19. The influenza virus was geographically widespread according to the last report, meaning there is flu activity throughout different regions, said David Blythe, a medical epidemiologist with the state. While the virus is difficult to predict, he said there is a possibility the flu has peaked and is headed toward a decline. Even …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Doctors still are urging residents to get a flu shot.
The number of flu cases in Maryland have dropped over the last week, but health officials still are pushing residents to get the flu vaccine, according to a report in The Gazette. For the week ending Dec. 29, 10.1 percent of people visiting doctors were there for the flu. For the week ending Jan. 5, only 3.5 percent of people visiting doctors were there for the flu, according to a report from the state. Maryland’s flu season might have peaked, but the number of cases remains widespread statewide, and health officials still are urging people to be vaccinated, a state epidemiologist said Monday. The numbers still are higher than the past two flu seasons, according to The Gazette report.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Doctors are still urging residents to get a flu shot.
The number of flu cases in Maryland have dropped over the last week, but health officials are still pushing residents to get the flu vaccine, according to a report in The Gazette. The week ending Dec. 29, 10.1 prcent of people visiting doctors were for the flu and the week ending Jan. 5 only 3.5 percent of people visiting doctors were there for the flu, according to a report from the state. Maryland’s flu season might have peaked, but the number of cases remains widespread statewide and health officials are still urging people to be vaccinated, a state epidemiologist said Monday. The numbers are still higher than the past two flu seasons, according to the Gazette report.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Google Flu Trends "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," its website stated.
Flu cases appear to be rising still in Maryland, according to Google Flu Trends, which "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," the Google Flu Trends website stated. Google Flu Trends data indicates that the number of flu cases in Maryland started rising in mid-November. As of Jan. 11, the flu has reached the "intense" category in Maryland, whereas at this time last year, the number of flu cases was only in the "moderate" range. Earlier this week, Montgomery County hospitals reported an uptick in patients suffering from flu-like symptoms. At Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, about 30 extra patients a day are visiting the emergency room, many of them complaining of flu-like …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Patients with flu-like symptoms are crowding emergency rooms as officials gear up for what could be a bad flu season.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Patients with flu-like symptoms are crowding emergency rooms as officials gear up for what could be a bad flu season.
Montgomery County hospitals are seeing an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms as the number of influenza cases across the state and the country rises and health officials gear up for a flu season that could be the one of the worst in a decade. The flu is spreading earlier and faster than usual in the Washington, DC, region this year, The Washington Post reported, and Maryland is experiencing widespread cases. In Maryland so far this season, 2,362 have tested positive for the flu, according to The Baltimore Sun. But since many patients are treated for flu-like symptoms without being tested, the number is likely much higher, said Mary Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. The …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Google Flu Trends "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," its website stated.
Flu cases appear to be on the rise, according to Google Flu Trends, which "uses aggregated Google search data to estimate current flu activity around the world in near real-time," Google Flu Trends' website stated. Google Flu Trends' data indicates that the number of flu cases in Maryland is already between the "high" and "intense" categories, whereas at this time last year, the number of flu cases was only between the "low" and "moderate" categories. Best places to escape the flu, according to Google Flu Trends: South America, South Africa and Australia. (Perhaps flu viruses don't like long flights?) Or, better yet, consider getting a flu shot. Find a flu shot location near you with this Flu Vaccine Finder (available through the American …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Flu season hits early and hard in the United States, says CDC.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Ben Gross
-
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) FluView flu activity tracker, the influenza virus has “increased substantially” in the south central and Southeast regions of the country, and has come the earliest since the 2003-2004: While influenza vaccines have been around since 1945, the type that contains a live virus have only been used since 2003, and many people still wonder if they should get a flu vaccine shot. Today, there are two basic types of flu vaccines – traditional needle injection and a nasal spray. Who should get a flu shot? The CDC believes that all persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated on a yearly basis, but especially urges the shot for children under 5 …
jag
1:27 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
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