(photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
According to the CDC, Louisiana has the highest rate of flu activity of any state in the Continental United States. Dr. Fred Lopez, a professor of medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says this is a relatively early start to flu season.
“The only thing predictable about a flu season is that it’s unpredictable. We’ll have to wait and see what happens this year. But there does seem to be early-season flu activity that’s higher than usually seen at this time of year,” Lopez said.
Louisiana and Hawaii are the only states where flu activity has risen to the level of “moderate” this early into flu season. Dr. Lopez says the prevailing subtype this year is H1N1.
“There is a mutation that’s been noted in this subtype, relative to last year. Is that why we’re seeing cases earlier this year? Unclear, because maybe perhaps the immunity from the vaccine isn’t as good?” Lopez asked.
Lopez says there are a couple of reasons why people here in Louisiana are especially at risk for getting the flu.
“We have low vaccination rates against the flu, and we also have a high uninsured medical population as well,” Lopez noted.
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