Flu season starts early, predicted to be severe

For those elderly individuals out there who have not received their seasonal flu vaccination, sooner is better than later. CDC director Thomas Frieden told The New York Times that the flu season seems to be starting a month earlier than normal and that the flu strains circulating, especially the N3N2 strain, were particularly severe.

Frieden did state that this year’s flu vaccination is a 90 percent match for circulating strains and that people were encouraged to get vaccinated. You may recall another post by Physicians Choice Private Duty about getting vaccinated for the flu.

Elevated levels of flu-like illnesses have shown up in five of 10 U.S. regions according to the CDC’s FluView survey. States experiencing high flu numbers include Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. The Midwest is also seeing elevated numbers.

Deaths attributed to pneumonia and flu were at 6.3 percent for the week. This is slightly below the 6.7 percent that the CDC considers to be an epidemic rate.

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/“