Flu Symptoms 2013: Research Being Conducted Amid The Deaths Of 18 People
A research group is in the process of evaluating why some people are more prone to acquiring the flu virus than others are.
Dr. Pedro Avila, who is part of the Northwestern Hospital research team, spoke to Fox News regarding the influenza symptoms and how his group is conducting their research.
"A stuffy nose, you could have some mucus in your nose. And then, in addition to that, people can have a fever, and also, body aches.That's when we are looking at the response-the airway response, Like the upper airway, the nose and lung response to the flu to see what difference that makes and if you have the severe flu or mild flu."
The doctor went on to state that the sickness going around is drastically more severe than usual. Seniors who are 65 or older as well as children under the age of five are considered the most susceptible to coming down with either a mild or major case of the flu.
"The kids, younger than 5 years of age, their immune system are still developing, whereas those who are 65 years or older, the immune system is kinda waning down and responds very well to infections," Avila added.
According to Dr. Avila, the group's research indicated that individuals with diabetes or chronic heart disease are more prone, especially in Massachusetts, where a state of emergency has been called following the deaths of 18 people. The state is one of 41 that is combating the illness on a large scale, which has resulted in many over packed emergency rooms having to turn away mild flu patients due to lack of space.
"This is the worst flu season we've seen since 2009, and people should take the threat of flu seriously," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said via statement, according to ABC News.
