Flu killed more Americans last season than car crashes and drug overdoses
CHICAGO — Last flu season was the most deadly in years, and public-health advocates are urging residents to get vaccinated.
More than 80,000 people died from the flu last season in the United States, according to early estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although it’s far lower than the almost 700,000 people who died in the U.S. during the so-called Spanish flu pandemic that hit worldwide 100 years ago, last season was a “record-breaking” death toll, the highest since at least the late 1970s, according to the CDC.
The flu deaths last season were nearly 10,000 higher than the estimated number who died from drug overdoses and almost double the number of those estimated to have died in motor vehicle crashes. An estimated 900,000 plus were hospitalized, the public-health agency said.
At Chicago’s Stroger’s Hospital, a sizable portion of the patients who went to the emergency room with flu-like symptoms were not those doctors would expect to see, said Dr. Jenny Lu, an emergency physician.
Generally, the very old, the very young or those with major medical problems like diabetes, heart disease or immune conditions would make up the overwhelming portion of those severely ill with flu. But last season was different, Lu said. The patients who came through were not elderly and often were quite healthy otherwise — “People you wouldn’t think would have the flu,” she said.
It’s too early to say how bad this flu season is going to be — the CDC won’t even start tracking flu cases for the season until later this month — but it’s better to take precautions as soon as possible, experts say.
Although many might balk at getting a flu shot, getting it sooner may prevent serious illness, hospitalization or death.
“Only 29 percent of those hospitalized in ICUs received a flu shot,” said Dr. Marielle Fricchione, medical director of Chicago’s immunizations program. “About 18 percent of those who died received a flu shot.”
Children especially can be helped by the flu vaccine. Last season, 172 children died from flu-related illnesses in the United States — a record for a flu season, according to the CDC. About 80 percent of those who died had not received a shot.
The vaccine, available now, may make the flu less severe if someone does catch it. That may be the difference between a weeklong stay in intensive care and a few days spent in bed with aches and sniffles. The needle-fearing don’t have an excuse either — after advising the public to avoid the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine for the last two years, the CDC has given it the green light this season.
“Now is a good time to get it,” said Lu. “There are a lot of places the general public can go to get vaccinated.” This may be the ideal time to get the vaccine, Lu and other experts say, as it takes two weeks to become fully effective. Immunity from flu is expected to last through January for those who get vaccinated now, Fricchione said.
The number of those who died of flu or related complications last season is small in comparison to the number who died during 1918.
There was no flu shot then, and city health officials appeared to struggle with how to contain the contagion. “Virtual quarantine” was declared, with each sick citizen “commanded to go to his home and stay there,” announced the city health department. No visitors were to be allowed.
Days later, another report notes, the city health commissioner asked the police chief to order the arrest of “all persistent coughers and sneezers who fail to cover their faces with handkerchiefs.”
Schools were also briefly closed. Even theater managers made announcements before shows, asking the owners of “persistent coughs” to exit. Church pastors did the same before their services.
A century later, public health experts have simpler advice, made easier by the development of the flu vaccine.
“If you want to protect those in our communities who are most at risk of getting sick, get a flu shot,” said Fricchione.