Weekly Flu and Weather Update

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Weekly Flu and Weather Update
9:30 AM EST, January 5, 2003

Flu activity continued to rise across the
country, although a few areas that had
shown early peaks between
Thanksgiving and Christmas have seen
a substantial decrease in reports.
Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska all
showed signs that the worst of the flu
season had passed for the time being.
Flu (influenza) viruses are typically
spread when an individual who has the
flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and
spreads virus into the air, and other
people inhale the virus.

Another way the flu can be spread is
when a person touches a surface that
has flu viruses on it (for instance, a
door handle) and then touches his or
her nose or mouth.

The flu season in the U.S. typically
peaks between late December and
early March. It is estimated that
approximately 10% to 20% of U.S.
residents get the flu in any given winter,
and 36,000 Americans die every year
due to complications from the flu.
The flu tends to peak during the winter
because cold weather causes people to
spend more time inside where germs
tend to be spread most easily.

Weather patterns can help affect the
immune system of individuals, making
them more or less vulnerable to the flu
and other viruses. In particular, rapid
changes in the weather (e.g.
temperature swings) tend to weaken
one`s immune system.