Flu “Strikes” Alaska
As of February 25, influenza cases in Alaska had been increasing dramatically (5%) for the past three weeks, according to the state Division of Public Health. The flu season is proving to be one of the worst in recent years in terms of hospitalizations and deaths.
Despite this data, Alaska is not being hit as hard as other states in the country, but the rates are still concerning. Flu vaccination rates are running lower and the strain of the disease is slightly more virulent. Alaskans over the age of 65 and those zero to four years of age are most at risk for severe flu illness, as well as those with underlying medical conditions. Nationwide, as of the end of February, there were 16,000 flu deaths, 370,000 hospitalizations and 29 million people had been infected. |