SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – This year’s flu season in Utah is being called the worst in 10 years. A different “B” strain of influenza that’s not included in this year’s vaccine may be to blame, according ABC News Doctor Richard Besser.
This comes as the CDC now considers Utah one of the worst states where the flu is widespread. Not only that, but the season started early. It normally peaks in February.
University Hospital’s Dr. Sankar Swaminathan says the vaccine covers the majority of cases, but it’s not 100 percent. He said people who get the shot, can still get sick. “In many cases what happened is you may still come down with the flu but not as severe as it would have been,” he said.
Another reason for this year’s rough flu season in Utah: dry weather. The virus floats around longer—spreading further.
