Flu virus has killed THOUSANDS in just ONE week with the death toll set to rise and Tamiflu shortages being reported across the country

By Dailymail.com Reporter

EST, 11 February 2018

New CDC statistics show over 4,000 Americans died from the flu or pneumonia during the third week of January

The illnesses were responsible for 1 in 10 fatalities in the first week of February

The flu scare has caused a shortage of the preventative influenza drug, Tamiflu

1 of every 13 doctor visits last week were for fever, cough and various other flu symptoms

February is the peak month for the sickness – while flu season typically starts up in December

Startling CDC statistics show 4,064 Americans died from the flu or pneumonia during the third week of the new year, while the illnesses were responsible for 1 in 10 fatalities in the first week of February.

The flu scare has also left pharmacies running low on the preventative influenza drug, Tamiflu. Several states have seen a drastic increase in prescription volume.

‘In Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas, prescriptions are up over 20-fold from last year, and other parts of the south and midwest are likewise seeing an exceptionally high prescription volume,’ GoodRx reports.

‘On a national basis, prescriptions for Tamiflu are up more than 6 times last year’s rate. The high volume of Tamiflu prescriptions at this point in the season has resulted in a shortage of the medication.’ 

CDC acting director Anne Schuchat predicts the death toll will continue to rise over the next few weeks. 

‘Unfortunately, more deaths are likely to happen… we do expect and it would make sense to see more pneumonia and influenza-related deaths,’ said Schuchat, according to Bloomberg.

The flu scare has also left pharmacies running low on the preventative influenza drug, Tamiflu

Several states have seen a drastic increase in prescription volume for the preventative influenza drug, Tamiflu

Many of these individuals have likely already been hospitalized. 

A government report from Friday revealed this year’s flu epidemic is as bad as the swine flu epidemic in 2009.

The report said 1 of every 13 doctor visits last week were for fever, cough and various other flu symptoms. 

February is the peak month for the deadly illness – while flu season typically starts up in December.

‘We have a lot to learn still about influenza… It’s a wake-up call about how severe influenza can be, and why we can never let down our guard,’ Schuchat said.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the epidemic is a ‘wake-up call’

February is the peak month for the sickness – while flu season typically starts up in December

source：http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5379261/Shortage-Tamiflu-flu-kills-4-000-Americans-week.html

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