Flu Update as of February 9th
The peak of the flu season is beginning, so there are no states unaffected. The best advice still remains to get a flu vaccine if they are still available in your area, avoid contact with infected people, be cautious about contact with groups of people and WASH YOUR HANDS frequently and thoroughly!
- Localized Outbreaks (0 states*)
- Florida
- Maine
- Washington DC (District of Columbia)
- Regionalized Outbreaks (17 states)
- California
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Widespread Outbreaks ( states)
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Sporadic Outbreaks
- None
*Including the District of Columbia
This is a good time to review handwashing techniques and things you can do to avoid catching the flu.
- Avoid close contact with people who have the flu.
- Don’t expose others - if you are sick STAY HOME!! You will get well faster this way too!
- Be polite! Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze! And use disposable tissues!
- Avoid touching your face - flu is spread through direct contact.
- WASH YOUR HANDS PROPERLY!!
Flu Update as of February 1st
The flu is active in all of the 50 U.S. States now and officials continue to urge common sense and proactive prevention. Some school districts have been closed to halt the progression of the illness. Wash your hands and limit your exposure to people who are infected!
- Localized Outbreaks (10 states*)
- Alabama
- Illinois
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
- Regionalized Outbreaks (26 states)
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
- Widespread Outbreaks (11 states)
- Alaska
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Hawaii
- Colorado
- New York
- Texas
- Sporadic Outbreaks
- All states not listed above
*Including the District of Columbia
This is a good time to review handwashing techniques and things you can do to avoid catching the flu.
- Avoid close contact with people who have the flu.
- Don’t expose others - if you are sick STAY HOME!! You will get well faster this way too!
- Be polite! Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze! And use disposable tissues!
- Avoid touching your face - flu is spread through direct contact.
- WASH YOUR HANDS PROPERLY!!
Why No Flu in Southern New Jersey?
I can’t explain it and apparently the CDC can’t either. The southern half of New Jersey is virtually clear of this year’s outbreak of seasonal flu.
New Jersey does show on the report of widespread outbreak because the northern half of the state is affected. Tom Slater, the spokesman for the State of New Jersey Health and Human Services Department says, “There is still time to get a flu shot. There is more vaccine available this year than any other.” Unfortunately that isn’t true for all areas of the country. My personal residential town has been out of the flu vaccine for several weeks and they are not planning on any more arriving this flu season.
Typically 36,000 people die each year from the flu. Most of the victims are elderly people. The flu is mostly spread by children. An average of 226,000 people are hospitalized annually from infection by the flu.