PBS高端访谈:近十年来最严重的流感季里你所需知道的（在线收听）

Judy Woodruff: Flu season is not easing its grip on much of the United States, and the outbreak is reaching levels not seen in nearly a decade. Hospitalizations for it are higher than normal, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today that roughly one in 13 visits to the doctor last week were for flu-like symptoms. It has also claimed the lives of at least 10 more children this week, putting that number at 63 for the season. Tens of thousands of deaths are often associated with the flu annually. Dr. Anne Schuchat is the acting director of the CDC, and she joins me now. Dr. Schuchat, welcome back to the program. So, how widespread is the flu right now in this country?

Dr. Anne Schuchat: This is a very difficult flu season. And this past week, we got more bad news. The doctor visits for flu are as high this week as we have seen during the peak of the 2009 pandemic. We're not having a pandemic right now, but we have a very, very difficult flu season.

Judy Woodruff: Why is it so bad this year?

Dr. Anne Schuchat: Well, there are a couple reasons that we know of, and there are probably some more reasons that we need to learn about. One thing is it's an H3N2 influenza season. That's the strain that's dominating. There are a couple other strains circulating. H3N2 seasons tend to be more severe. The other thing is that influenza vaccine doesn't work as well against H3N2 strains, so that's probably a second factor. And the third factor is that the vaccine is probably working even less well than usual against the H3N2. We had an early start to the season, and it's continuing full force right now.

Judy Woodruff: Are there particular parts of our population that are more vulnerable than others?

Dr. Anne Schuchat: Anyone can get the flu, and it can be serious. But the people who have a harder time with flu are the very old, the very young, pregnant women, and people with heart disease, lung disease, and other medical conditions that can make it harder for them to take on a lung infection. We recommend that those groups in particular, if they present with flu symptoms, they can benefit from antiviral medicines that may convert a relatively mild illness — that may prevent a milder illness from becoming a hospitalization or worse.

Judy Woodruff: Is there enough, Dr. Schuchat? Is there enough vaccine available this year to prevent the flu or at least prevent it from being more severe? Is there enough of the drug Tamiflu, which I know is prescribed for many people?

Dr. Anne Schuchat: More than 152 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed. And the coverage is about — overall about what we saw last year in terms of how many people have gotten vaccinated by this time in the year. It's not too late to be vaccinated, for those who haven't already gotten vaccinated. There may be some benefit to still getting the vaccine. We're seeing more requests or prescriptions for Tamiflu or the other antivirals against influenza than we have seen in past years. There's a lot of demand for that because of the intense season. It may be hard to find locally, so we expect that people may need to call around to the pharmacies. But the past couple weeks,we have been working closely with the manufacturers, the pharmacy chains, the insurers, the distributors to try smooth out that supply, to take care of those spot shortages. We do think that prompt treatment with antiviral medicines can be very important in people who present with severe symptoms or people who are at risk for complications.

Judy Woodruff: So, I have to ask you, what is your advice for people who have not had the flu and for people who have it?

Dr. Anne Schuchat: Well, if you are feeling well, keep washing your hands, cover your cough or sneeze. And if you do get sick, please stay home from work or school, so that you don't spread the flu. What's a mild illness for you could be something severe for one of your co-workers or your classmates. If you have the flu and you are pregnant or elderly or have heart or lung disease, we hope that you're seeking medical care, because prompt treatment with antivirals can be lifesaving.

Judy Woodruff: Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC, we thank you.

Dr. Anne Schuchat: Thank you, Judy.

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：对于美国大部分地区而言，流感并未减弱，其爆发程度近十年来前所未见。因流感接受住院治疗的人数比往常更多，疾病控制与预防中心今日报告称，上周大约每13个病人中就有1人因流感类似症状入院诊治。本周至少又有10名儿童因流感丧命，由此本次流感季的儿童死亡人数达到63人。每年死于流感的人数多达成千上万。安妮·舒查特博士是美国疾病控制与预防中心的代理主任，现在她做客节目。舒查特博士，欢迎回到我们的节目。那么，目前美国的流感范围有多大？

安妮·舒查特博士：这是一个举步维艰的流感季。在过去一周中，我们听到了更多的坏消息。本周医生接诊的流感病例数达到了我们在2009年流感大流行高峰期间的接诊人数。而我们现在还没有遭受（所谓的）“大流行”，但本次流感季真的是异常艰难。

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：今年情况为什么这么遭？

安妮·舒查特博士：嗯，我们知道的，有几个原因，但可能还有其他更多原因，有待了解。其中一个是因为本次流感季的致病病毒是H3N2。那是本次流感季的主要致病毒株。此外流行的还有两种毒株。H3N2流感季往往更严重。另外还有一个原因是，流感疫苗未能很好对抗H3N2毒株，所以这可能是第二个原因。而第三个原因是，疫苗抵抗H3N2毒株的效果甚至比往常还要差。早在本流感季初，我们就已经开始积极行动，现在仍在全力挽救危局。

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：人群中有没有一些人比其他人更容易受到感染？

安妮·舒查特博士：任何人都可能患病，病情可以很严重。但是，对于老人、幼童、孕妇以及患有心脏病、肺病和其他疾病的人群，本次流感季更加凶险，一旦遭受肺部感染，这些人群的情况将会更糟。我们建议，尤其这些特别人群，如果出现流感症状，可以使用抗病毒药物，这些药物可以减轻或疗愈相对温和的病情——可以让不太严重的流感病人免于住院治疗，也可控制疾病恶化。

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：那疫苗数量够么，舒查特博士？今年是否有足够的疫苗来预防流感或至少控制流感趋势恶化？是否有足够的达菲药物？我知道医生会给很多人开这种药。

安妮·舒查特博士：现在医生至少已经开出了1.52亿剂流感疫苗。就去年疫苗接种人数而言，目前今年疫苗的覆盖范围大致——总的来说已经达到了去年水平。而对于尚未接种疫苗的人来说，接种疫苗为时不晚。现在仍在接种疫苗可能也有一些好处。今年，疫苗接种请求，达菲处方开出数量以及其他预防流感的抗病毒药物使用数量，比我们在过去几年里看到的要多。由于流感事态严重，它们的需求量很大。它们在当地可能已经很难找到，所以我们预计，人们可能要四处给药房打打电话了。但在过去的几周里，我们一直在与制造商、连锁药店 、保险公司、分销商紧密合作，试图理顺供应，以缓解现货短缺。我们的确认为，及时使用抗病毒药物治疗，对于那些出现严重症状或有并发症风险的病人来说至关重要。

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：所以，我想询问，对于目前那些未感和已感人群，您有什么建议？

安妮·舒查特博士：嗯，如果你感觉很好，请坚持洗手，咳嗽打嚏时请捂住口鼻。如果你确实病了，请呆在家里，不要再去工作或上学，这样你就不会传播流感了。你的轻症，对你的同事或同学而言，可能很严重。如果你感冒了，并且你是个孕妇或老人，或患有心脏或肺部疾病，我们希望你寻求医疗帮助，因为及时的抗病毒药物治疗，可以挽救生命。

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：美国疾病控制与预防中心代理主任安妮·舒查特博士，我们感谢你。

安妮·舒查特博士：谢谢你，朱蒂。