FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- The U.S. government is casting a wider net in its effort to track and control this year's influenza outbreak, which a top official is now calling an "epidemic" because 36 states are reporting widespread flu activity.
Since the outbreak began, health officials had been cautiously avoiding the term epidemic because it was early and the numbers didn't justify it. But since the flu has struck every state, has hit hard in nearly three-quarters of them, and has -- anecdotally, at least -- been particularly rough on children, Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it was unavoidable.
"There is no firm dividing between what's an epidemic and what's not an epidemic," Gerberding said at a news conference Friday. "But I think when you look at maps with widespread activity in 36 states, we regard it from a common-sense perspective as an epidemic."
The CDC said its emergency operations center has been up and running for two weeks, although officials cautioned that this was not a cause for alarm.
"It is a statement of how we're doing business in a more efficient and effective way, and not anything about this particular situation constitutes a new public health emergency at this moment," Gerberding said.
The emergency operations center, she added, involves personnel from many different branches of the CDC and coordinates communications, logistics, scientists, and the overall investigation.
The agency is also hosting a telephone "flu summit" to solicit advice from dozens of professional organizations on how to enhance vaccination rates, how to increase the supply of flu vaccine in the future, and how to update the manufacture of vaccine.
Field teams are currently collecting data on the effectiveness of this year's vaccine and on the availability of antiviral medications. Gerberding said she expected the antiviral report early next week.
Questions about the efficacy of this year's vaccine have been raised because it does not contain one of the flu strains currently circulating.
"What we can say now from animal studies is that [the vaccine] does appear to offer good promise of cross-protection," Gerberding said, repeating past statements. "How much efficacy with this particular situation remains to be seen. We're hopeful, but we don't have the data to answer that quantitatively at this moment in time."
The reason for all this flurry is the nature of this year's flu season.
"It is definitely true that the season started earlier than average, and it is definitely true that there is more widespread activity this year compared to most years," Gerberding added. "But whether or not the people who have the flu are more likely to be hospitalized or to develop complications and death from this particular strain, we just simply can't say. From a practical perspective, it is fair to refer to it as an epidemic."
The only saving grace would be if the epidemic peaked early.
So far, health officials have confirmed 42 deaths among children, although it is unclear if that is more than usual. According to one mathematical model, 90 or more children are expected to die from the flu each year. While the deaths are still being investigated, experts have confirmed underlying medical conditions in 40 percent of the children, 55 percent of whom were under the age of 5. At least three children had a complicating bacterial infection. It's unclear how many of the children had been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the CDC and state health agencies are working to distribute the 100,000 doses of vaccine that were acquired last week. "Most of the doses will be accounted for very quickly," Gerberding said.
People who are at high risk for influenza should contact their health-care provider about finding a supply of vaccine.
About 10 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu and most of those will not get severely ill, Gerberding emphasized.
People who are over 65, who are pregnant, or who have an underlying medical condition should seek medical care as soon as they think they have the flu.
The flu can mock a cold, but with significant differences. Flu's onset is much quicker than a cold's, a cough is much drier, and a fever is higher. Most people can get out and about with a cold, whereas the flu exhausts its victims. It also leaves their muscles achy.
Healthy people who contract the flu should stay home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter medications for specific symptoms. See a doctor immediately if you or your child develops trouble breathing, rapid breathing, temperatures that remain high for four days, and altered skin color or mental status (namely lethargy and irritability). If flu symptoms go away and then come back, this could be a sign of a bacterial infection, which is also a reason to see your doctor.
More information
For more on influenza and this year's season, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Lung Association.
