Flu season

This is the season for cold remedies and flu shots. There have been several reports of the flu ravaging through the country and have recently claimed a few lives. The virus has now become an epidemic, declared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has now been reported in 47 states, and have spiked in states like New York. Several school districts like those in Oklahoma have 25% of their student body still infected and suffering from the flu virus. Fortunately for some states like California, where they have reported that the virus has not engulfed their state like it has others.
The influenza outbreak has caused a lot of people to question the effectiveness of the flu vaccination/shot. Some cases have been documented that even those people who had the flu vaccination before the outbreak were still affected. It raises more concerns for those who have vulnerable immune systems like those of the elderly and young, as well as those with terminal illness.
The only thing we can all do is to take the necessary precautions to try and protect ourselves through hygiene. Health officials have noted that it is best to take preventative measures and to be aware of the symptoms that can occur when infected by the flu. Influenza like illnesses is spreading and can be mistaken for the real virus. According to the CDC, many of the symptoms that are caused by the flu virus can possibly evolve as the result of a cold virus infection.
We should all be sure to take precautions during the season as we can also spread the virus germs as well as contract them. The simplest way to ward off germs is by washing your hands and practicing good hygiene with the people in your household. Watch the local news in your area for more information regarding the status of your state. There is more information on the virus on the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov