Friday, January 11, 2013
Twenty four states reporting high flu activity, including Virginia.
The rate of Herndon-area residents with the flu was low to moderate in mid-December, but according to Google Flu Trends it has spiked to high and is heading toward intense. The Centers for Disease Control is reporting high levels of flu-like-illness across the country, and though some areas have reached their peak others are still on the upswing. Flu season typically peaks in January and February. Forty seven states are reporting widespread geographic flu activity, including Virginia. Twenty four states including Virginia are reporting high levels of flu-like-illness, while 16 are reporting moderate levels. While CDC information is based on actual data from previous weeks, Google Flu Trends is based on people searching for terms related …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The CDC established National Influenza Vaccination Week to remind people that it's not too late to get a flu shot.
The flu season is off to an earlier-than-usual start nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast of the country right now," the a CDC report released Monday says. "Most of the viruses characterized so far this season have been H3N2 viruses; which are typically associated with more severe seasons." The CDC established Dec. 2-8 as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The week is highlighted to remind people to get flu vaccinations before flu season. Last week, a Mayo Clinic report suggested people at risk for heart disease who get flu shots reduce their risk for heart attacks. Not Too Late, Even After Thanksgiving The CDC established this week to …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Fairfax County health officials release information about West Nile Virus symptoms and tips to protect yourself from mosquitos.
West Nile virus infections are on the rise with 1,118 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control so far this year, the highest tally since the virus was first found in the United States in 1999. Virginia's two reported cases, however, pale in comparison to the 298 reported in Texas. There have been no reported infections in Northern Virginia. The CDC reports 75 percent of this year's West Nile infections are from five states: Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota and Oklahoma. So far, 47 states have reported infections and 41 people have died from the virus. To learn more about protecting yourself from both West Nile and Lyme disease, visit the Fairfax County Health Department staff at their booth at NatureQuest in Herndon …
