Why the '13 Flu is So Dangerous, and Could Get Worse

The flu is taking the nation by storm, with major cities declaring public health emergencies and cases of confirmed infections soaring above last season’s relatively average numbers. The bad news is that it could get worse. The vaccine for this year’s flu appears to be matching up relatively well with the Influenza A strains – bearing in mind that in the best case scenario, the vaccine is between 60 to 70 percent effective (based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics from recent years). But against a particular strain of Influenza B, the vaccine is proving completely ineffective.

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