NEWS · B2 Level - Part 3

A surging flu season in the US

We start today with something we all hope to avoid each and every winter: the flu.

Level: B2 · 23 sentences

Transcript

  1. We start today with something we all hope to avoid each and every winter: the flu.
  2. Right now in the US, this flu season has been the most intense one we've seen in 15 years.
  3. When it comes to the number of doctor's office visits for flu-like symptoms, which is one indicator of flu activity,
  4. last week's data from the CDC shows that the number topped the peak of any winter flu season since the one in 2009 to 2010,
  5. which also had a global outbreak of swine flu or H1N1.
  6. The good news is CDC and hospital data show viral infections like COVID-19 and RSV appear to be on the decline nationally.
  7. But that means doctors are finding that the vast majority of illnesses have been the flu,
  8. plus some strep throat.
  9. February's traditionally the peak of flu season,
  10. but so far, the CDC says there have already been at least 24 million cases of the flu,
  11. 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths.
  12. While 43 states overall reported high or very high flu activity last week,
  13. the flu was the most intense in the South, Southwest, and Western states.
  14. The flu has spread so intensely this season that some schools have been forced to close.
  15. One large school system in Texas had 650 out of over 3,000 students out sick,
  16. plus 60 staff members.
  17. That closed the school for 3 days.
  18. Doctors say some good habits to avoid the flu are:
  19. avoid touching your eyes, your nose, and mouth.
  20. This can help prevent the germs from spreading.
  21. Also, wash your hands and wash them often.
  22. Each time you do wash them, spend at least 20 seconds doing so with soap and water, and...
  23. make sure to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.