Flu Activity Increasing Sharply, CDC Reports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the dominating virus this flu season is H1N1 which tends to impact young healthy adults and children.

Tuesday, January 8th 2019, 2:10 pm

By: News On 6

Flu Activity Increasing Sharply, CDC Reports

Flu season is picking up with federal health officials reporting sharp increases in flu activity nationwide. Flu-Related Deaths Now Total 11 in Oklahoma

The CDC is urging anyone over 6 months old who hasn't been vaccinated to get the shot right away.

"It can prevent you from getting sick, and even if you do get sick with influenza it can prevent you from having to go into the hospital," said Dr. Daniel Jernigan with the Centers for Disease Control.

Flu season usually starts in November or early December and peaks in February, but activity can last as late as May.

So far for the 2018-19 flu season, Oklahoma has seen 247 hospitalizations and 11 deaths from flu-related causes. The majority of the hospitalizations (63) have been in Tulsa County.

","published":"2019-01-08T20:10:34.000Z","updated":"2019-01-08T20:10:34.000Z","summary":"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the dominating virus this flu season is H1N1 which tends to impact young healthy adults and children.","affiliate":{"_id":"5c784a0c4961cb23ad330098","callSign":"kotv","origin":"https://www.newson6.com"},"contentClass":"news","createdAt":"2020-02-01T19:23:35.964Z","updatedAt":"2022-03-31T19:34:56.217Z","__v":2,"breakingNews":[],"entities":[{"_id":"6244bb116880e45323a37ecd","text":"Daniel Jernigan","type":"PERSON","__v":0},{"_id":"6238f1556880e45323d020b5","text":"Oklahoma","type":"LOCATION","__v":0},{"_id":"6238f7eb6880e45323d5f5a5","text":"Tulsa County","type":"LOCATION","__v":0},{"_id":"623b10c26880e453232c4189","text":"CDC","type":"ORGANIZATION","__v":0}],"hasBeenCheckedForEntities":true,"openInNewWindow":false,"show":true,"link":"/story/5e35d0372f69d76f62016a52/flu-activity-increasing-sharply-cdc-reports","hasSchedule":false,"id":"5e35d0372f69d76f62016a52"};