這個流感季是近年來爆發最猛烈的一次。美國疾病控制中心（Centers for Disease Control）的數據顯示，流感病毒目前在49個州中廣泛傳播，醫院里有流感相關癥狀的病人大約是往常年份的兩倍。

H3N2型流感的感染性極強，從兒童到美國橄欖球聯賽的觀眾，人人都無法幸免，在第52屆超級碗開賽前夕，比賽地明尼阿波利斯的感染病例數陡然上升。

疾病控制中心表示，通常情況下，美國流感季產生的住院和門診費用約為104億美元。在美國，流感季一般從10月或11月一直持續到5月，高峰時期往往在12月至2月之間。

在個人的醫療保健成本之外，企業也受到員工患病的影響而生產率降低。疾病控制中心的數據顯示，每年美國感染流感的人口比例為5%至20%不等。

這一次流感季的嚴重程度，也讓就業咨詢公司Challenger, Gray, & Christmas更新了1月中旬做出的流感季預測。公司原本預測，生產力的降低將帶來超過94億美元的損失。

而最新的預測把損失數額提高了64%，他們認為將有1,800萬美國人因為流感病毒至少請假4個八小時工作日。

以26.63美元的平均時薪計算，病假導致的生產力降低將給全國帶來超過154億美元的損失。

公司預計，假如今年流感季的嚴重程度堪比2009年感染6,000萬人的豬流感，那么生產力降低的損失將高達210億美元。

對小公司而言，員工生病會導致日常運營迅速停滯，但員工帶病上班也會讓問題更加嚴重。

Challenger, Gray, and Christmas的副總裁安德魯·查林杰表示：“員工可能認為‘咬緊牙關’帶病上班是正確的選擇。”然而，“他們可能會讓病毒傳播開來，進一步破壞企業的良好運轉。”

企業可以通過給員工接種流感疫苗來減少這種損失。

盡管今年流感疫苗的效果不如近幾次流感季，但打上一針仍然有用。雖然在秋天打疫苗是最為合適，不過現在也不算太晚。疾病控制中心表示，流感活動將在未來幾周內持續。（財富中文網）

譯者：嚴匡正

This flu season is one of the most intense in recent years. Flu virus activity is currently widespread in 49 states and hospitals are seeing roughly twice the number of patients with flu-related symptoms as in a typical year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The H3N2 strain of the flu is particularly aggressive and is causing problems for everyone from children to the NFL, as the number of cases in Minneapolis spikes ahead of Super Bowl LII.

Typically, according to the CDC, the direct cost of flu season hospitalizations and outpatient care in the U.S. is approximately $10.4 billion. In the U.S., flu season typically begins in October or November and can run through May, with peaks typically occurring between December and February.

Beyond individual health care costs, businesses also take a hit as productivity is lost while employees battle sickness. Between 5% and 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu each year, according to the CDC.

The severity of the flu this season caused Challenger, Gray, & Christmas, an employment consulting firm, to update its original flu season prediction from mid-January, which projected more than $9.4 billion in lost productivity.

The new estimate raised the previous figure by 64%, predicting that more than 18 million Americans will miss at least four eight-hour shifts due to the flu virus.

Based on the average hourly wage of $26.63, that time out sick could represent more than $15.4 billion in lost productivity across the nation.

If this year’s flu season reaches the severity of the 2009 swine flu epidemic, which infected more than 60 million people, the productivity costs could be as high as $21 billion, according to the firm’s estimates.

For smaller companies, workforce illnesses can quickly put day-to-day operations on hold, but sick employees coming into work also exacerbates the problem.

“Sick workers may think they are doing the right thing by ‘toughing it out’ and coming into work when they feel ill,” Challenger, Gray, and Christmas Vice President Andrew Challenger said. However, “they are only likely to spread their illness, potentially further interrupting optimum business operations.”

Businesses can combat this loss by providing flu shots to their employees.

Although the flu vaccine is a bit less effective this year than in other recent flu seasons, getting a flu shot still helps. While it’s better to get your flu shot in the fall, it’s not too late. According to the CDC, flu activity is expected to continue for several more weeks.