H5N1 has killed five people in Texas since the fall, where the current flu season seems to be particularly harsh.
A few states are already reporting peaks in influenza incidence, but Texas has the worst outlook at the moment.
The CDC is already vigorously monitoring the flu season and its developments in several states.
Although the health authorities insist that the current year's vaccine does include swine flu and other strains, the previous year's record showed that less than half the population got the shot.
The flu season has had a slow start this year, but such a delay should not be taken lightly. Once the season begins, it can spread quickly and cause unecessary deaths in those people with compromised immune systems.
Although the flu shot is taken by elderly and the immune compromised in larger numbers, the deaths in Texas show that even young people can die. One of the patients, Dustin Wright, pictured above was only 30 years old, and his symptoms were very mild at the start of his illness.
The flu season however, is far from peaking. The height of the season is in February, so that vaccinations are still valuable and available for those who wish to make use of them.
Source : CBS local/ 12.27.13
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