PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — How do scientists in the United States predict the severity of the flu season? And, how do they predict what strains of the flu are going to attack so they can develop vaccines in advance?
They do it by watching other parts of the world and monitoring the strains that have attacked earlier in the year.
The predictions aren't perfect, but they normally do quite well. One of the places they monitor is Australia, and in the last few weeks, flu cases have increased steeply.
It is still too early to write the final chapter on the Australian flu season, but if this keeps up during the April to September season in the southern hemisphere, it could be a warning for us.
