Cough-Cold and Flu

ARLINGTON, Va. — The high-dose flu vaccine appeared to be more effective at preventing post-influenza deaths among older adults than the standard-dose vaccine, at least during a more severe flu season, according to a large new study of Medicare beneficiaries released Thursday and published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The East Coast, especially throughout North Carolina, has become the hot bed for influenza activity for the week of Feb. 26, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index issued Wednesday.

For the week of Feb. 26, the top 10 markets experiencing flu activity are:

DESTIN, Fla. — PPC Group was named the winner of the 2017 DSN/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award in recognition of its EZC Pak immune support supplement.

The award was presented during ECRM’s Cough, Cold, Analgesics & Allergy EPPS held here. Elyptol was a finalist for the award in recognition of the launch of its Antimicrobial Hand Gel Sanitizer.

ATLANTA — The 2016/2017 influenza season has peaked. Influenza activity decreased slightly but remained elevated in the United States for the week ended Feb. 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

Influenza-like activity reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network  dropped from 5.2% patient visits attributed to influenza-like illness nationwide to 4.8% for the week. The national baseline is 2.2%.

DEERFIELD, Ill.— Parts of the South Atlantic are heating up in terms of flu, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index heat map released Wednesday. Significant flu activity gains are being reported across North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia, Walgreens noted.

By market, the top 10 regions experiencing flu activity gains for the week of Feb. 19 are:

ATLANTA — Based on early data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week reported that flu vaccines this season are reducing a vaccinated person’s risk of getting sick and having to go to the doctor because of flu by about half (48%). The agency also reported that there are still weeks to go during the current flu season.

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked a significant increase in the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the week ended Feb. 4.

ILI nationwide reached 4.8%, well above the national baseline of 2.2% and a sharp uptick in the 3.9% in ILI reported the week prior. All 10 regions reported ILI at or above their region-specific baseline levels, with New York City and 23 states experiencing high ILI activity and 10 states experiencing moderate ILI activity.