With 15 Children Dead, CDC Warns Of Flu Epidemic

19 states have reported the highest levels of Influenza. (Graphic: CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report) 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that flu deaths have reached the epidemic threshhold in the United States, specifically crediting the H3N2 strain of the virus for the mass outbreak — and troubling death toll among infected children.

This year’s flu vaccine does not protect against the H3N2 influenza virus.

22 states are currently reporting high levels of flu activity and the CDC notes that flu activity nationwide is at 6.8 percent, which is officially epidemic level. Ninety percent of those impacted have the H3N2 strain of the flu, which mutated and emerged after this year’s flu vaccines had already been prepared. The southeast and Midwest regions are the areas that have been hit hardest by this year’s flu outbreak.

Related: Hugs — The New Cold And Flu Fighters? 

Furthermore, the CDC reports that for this past calendar week alone, 28.1 percent of those tested came back positive for having some version of the flu virus. Over 97 percent of all flu cases are some version of what is known as the Infleunza A virus, which includes the H3N2 mutation.

Last week, there were four pediatric deaths from the flu; to date, the state of Tennessee has already seen 6 children die of the virus. “On average 100 children die each year, this year, fifteen” children have died thus far, says Dr. Richard Besser of ABC News, commenting that he does not think that this year’s flu outbreak is more dangerous for children than past years.

“For the past four years, flu has peaked at the end of December,” Dr. Besser tells ABC News, though traditionally the flu tends to peak in February or March. This shift indicates some kind of epidemiological change occurring with the flu in America.

And yet, doctors still encourage Americans to get the flu vaccine if they have not already. “The flu strain out there causing disease is not the one in the vaccine, but it should provide some protection,” Dr. Besser says.

Your Next Read: 5 Uncommon Tips To Beat Cold And Flu