Update: Influenza Is Hitting Children Especially Hard this Season

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 92 children have died from influenza so far this season—the highest number of deaths for this point in the season in a decade. Ominously, the CDC also points out that a second wave of flu outbreaks has been gaining momentum over the past few weeks. Overall, flu has killed an estimated 14,000 people this season, out of roughly 26 million confirmed cases. Around 250,00 people have been hospitalized for flu according to the CDC. While the agency has yet to release comprehensive data on the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine, it notes that the four antiviral medications approved for use against the flu have proven more than 99% effective against the current strains. Use this information to educate patients and parents of young children that it’s not too late to get protection from influenza by getting a flu shot, and that your urgent care center can help save lives with proper care for patients who are infected. In the midst of the previous flu season, JUCM published an original article on Treating Patients Infected With Influenza Virus In The Urgent Care Setting. You can read it right now in our archive.