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Omaha Steve

(108,549 posts) Thu Jan 1, 2015, 10:10 AM Jan 2015

CDC: Flu reaches epidemic in Florida and most states; 837 deaths reported [View all]

Source: Jacksonville (FTU)

By Karen Kaplan

Deaths due to influenza and pneumonia have hit “epidemic” levels in the U.S. as flu activity became widespread in 36 states including Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials reported 837 flu and pneumonia deaths to the CDC through its 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System during the 51st week of the year. Those deaths accounted for 6.8 percent of the 12,358 total deaths that week, just meeting the epidemic threshold.

Influenza activity was considered “widespread” in 36 states, according to the CDC’s most recent FluView report. These states included Florida and Georgia. No flu-related deaths were reported on the First Coast.

Cities in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin reported 151 deaths, the most among the nine regions in the system. Another 147 deaths were tallied in the Pacific region, which includes California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.

FULL story at link.

Associated Press

Read more: http://jacksonville.com/breaking-news/2014-12-31/story/cdc-flu-reaches-epidemic-florida-and-most-states-837-deaths-reported

updated Thu, Jan 1, 2015 @ 9:26 am

60 replies

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CDC: Flu reaches epidemic in Florida and most states; 837 deaths reported [View all] Omaha Steve Jan 2015 OP

Too bad the flu epidemic didn't go away after the elections like the Ebola epidemic did. n/t A Simple Game Jan 2015 #1

We need to hold a national election right away! Tell the media to cure the flu like they did ebola. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #3

Reality is like that--and by the way, Ebola hasn't gone away, it's gone behind the headlines Demeter Jan 2015 #5

I was referencing the Republican and media hype that was used before the elections A Simple Game Jan 2015 #8

Hey, you may hit the magic cure for all diseases! = n/t mazzarro Jan 2015 #18

My son-in-law had influenza over the weekend. He is a victim of chronic pain and could not keep any jwirr Jan 2015 #2

Just went through the same problem, it is sooo miserable! Hope he is better soon! Dustlawyer Jan 2015 #17

Happy to hear you made it through. jwirr Jan 2015 #29

Rush out and get that worthless flu shot, now, ye hear? Demeter Jan 2015 #4

yes it is a great government stonecutter357 Jan 2015 #6

Me too. sybylla Jan 2015 #9

Absolutely! 50% chance of getting it is better than 100% chance. LiberalFighter Jan 2015 #55

My wife and I get the flu shots every year now... Sancho Jan 2015 #10

I get flu 840high Jan 2015 #28

I get it every year! A couple of times I got it despite the shot, but it RKP5637 Jan 2015 #35

Yes, if they don't get the shot quite right, you can get the flu but it will be milder Warpy Jan 2015 #51

I wonder what's the best way to prevent it. I have a friend that has a weakened immune system, RKP5637 Jan 2015 #52

Well, it will remind them not to touch their faces with their fingers Warpy Jan 2015 #53

Thanks Warpy!!! Excellent advice!!! RKP5637 Jan 2015 #54

Good info to know and reminder. LiberalFighter Jan 2015 #57

Yep same here and just got the pneumonia shot. Like you said like a cold. LiberalArkie Jan 2015 #49

I try to minimize touch when I am with others. LiberalFighter Jan 2015 #56

I take my chances by getting a flu shot... SoapBox Jan 2015 #11

Hear! Hear! Demeter Jan 2015 #12

Yes we do need those things. But what I'm saying is that it is not the government's fault totodeinhere Jan 2015 #16

California has passed a mandated paid sick policy... SoapBox Jan 2015 #50

you understand avoiding people is not an option for many people, don't you? Skittles Jan 2015 #14

I would not blame the government for this. Producing the vaccine requires a long lead time totodeinhere Jan 2015 #15

Highlighting the less than 50%...... Chakaconcarne Jan 2015 #19

The flu shot isn't worthless. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #22

not sure where you got the <50% effectiveness from, the flu shot is not worthless magical thyme Jan 2015 #26

K&R! +++ 1,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Jan 2015 #36

I can't read your post vkkv Jan 2015 #44

sorry. take 2 aspirin & call me in the am. And whatever you do, don't open this post, lol! nt magical thyme Jan 2015 #45

you can disable sig lines in your "my account" settings Kali Jan 2015 #60

yeah well I don't consider it worthless PatrynXX Jan 2015 #38

Connection to lack of health care in red states? The Blue Flower Jan 2015 #7

Poor match on flu shot Yo_Mama Jan 2015 #39

It was admitted that this year's flu shot was off the mark PumpkinAle Jan 2015 #13

As long as it's not Ebola, people can die all day long and Pukes won't pay much attention. Shrike47 Jan 2015 #20

Interesting geographic pattern of outbreak brooklynite Jan 2015 #21

Boy, it sure looks like socio-political factors are at work. hedgehog Jan 2015 #24

And yet there's Minnesota, which enthusiastically adopted the ACA, The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #27

I agree, the map is a starting point for asking more questions. I was looking at Minnesota myself. hedgehog Jan 2015 #30

Weather related in FLORIDA? HockeyMom Jan 2015 #37

No; there could be other reasons. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #43

Huh, wonder what Tennessee's up to there. (nt) Posteritatis Jan 2015 #31

Fact-free speculation much? This looks at kindergartners only so it isn't definitive but be careful. proverbialwisdom Jan 2015 #33

Only Children? HockeyMom Jan 2015 #42

I did not overstate any claims (see caveat), but y'all are stereotyping. (nt) proverbialwisdom Jan 2015 #48

You need to look at the weekly maps to see it spread because where it is changes uppityperson Jan 2015 #34

Red states for the most part. Anti-ACA most likely. freshwest Jan 2015 #59

I had a rough Night PeoViejo Jan 2015 #23

Actually I was looking at the charts of where it's reached epidemic and it's almost OregonBlue Jan 2015 #25

I had the shortest flu on record -- and I'm thanking the shot nichomachus Jan 2015 #32

That doesn't seem to be the flu!!! Yo_Mama Jan 2015 #40

I don't know, but it sure felt like it -- all the same symptoms n/t nichomachus Jan 2015 #41

Take your temperature HockeyMom Jan 2015 #47

Sounds like a week's worth of flu... Ace Rothstein Jan 2015 #46

I had something the middle of last year that thought was the flu. LiberalFighter Jan 2015 #58