Introduction
The following analysis presents the next America’s flu outbreak challenge. The influenza pandemic that was reported in the last two years shook the entire globe with many people hospitalization cases reported in the United States. Many people lost their lives to the disease, and it was estimated that more than 1,280 children died (CDC 1). As a result of this pandemic, both the leading medical professionals and public health experts will make a public gathering in Washington, DC on 21 September to educate Americans on the impact of influenza and carry out immunization campaigns. This will help in reducing flu cases during the influenza season. In an attempt to shed some light on the 2011-2012influenza outbreak, the following research presents a discussion on seasonal flu.
Overview
The toll taken by flu in every season cannot be predicted with some levels of accuracy. Therefore, medical experts and public health professions advise that people who are over six months should be vaccinated every year in order to reduce the effect of the illness.
Seasonal Influenza Outbreak
According to research findings, flu viruses cause the seasonal influenza illness. This is a respiratory disease that is contagious in nature. And, it has been statistically proven that about 5 to 20 percent of those people who reside in the United States get the influenza infection every year. This is a matter of public health concern that requires urgent medical intervention, policy formulation and implementation. Recent research findings ascertain that cases of flu season are often common in the months of January and February (CDC 1). As a matter of an urgent intervention, flu vaccine can be the best influenza protection. This will help in protecting against flu complications, which include, but not limited to dehydration and pneumonia, among others. Seasonal influenza illnesses can last for more than one week, and in certain cases the duration lasts up to two weeks.
As discussed earlier, seasonal influenza illness is transmitted from the infected person to another individual through contact. This contagious respiratory disease causes mild and severe infections. According to healthcare reports, flu has been found to cause death (CDC 1). This deadly illness is frequent in the US during the winter seasons when the temperatures are extremely cold, and the peak is usually in the months of January and February. However, there are seasonal flu cases, which have been reported during the months of October and May. The research findings of the healthcare experts and medical professionals ascertain that the seasonal flu can be spread through sneezing. In fact, coughing contributes a lot to its spread. When such germs from influenza infected person land in one’s nose or mouth, he/she stands a high risk of getting the infection. Seasonal flu complications are common among various groups of people. These groups include seniors of between 65 years and above, children who are below 2 years and people who are suffering chronic health illnesses (CDC 1).
In sum, the best way to protect someone from seasonal flu outbreak infections is to keep oneself healthy by observing daily healthcare steps. Some of the common seasonal flu complications include dehydration, bacteria pneumonia, sinus and ear infection. Often, people with chronic health illnesses are mostly affected and their conditions become worse. And, as discussed earlier, those people who get seasonal flu infection can last with it for two weeks. People whose immune systems are weak and children take a long time to heal from this contagious illness.
Work Cited
Center for disease Control and Prevention (CDC). America′s Next Flu Challenge. CDC Online Newsroom, 2011. Web.