Trending News Today: CDC Reports Flu Less Severe Than Previous Season

A new Gallup poll of 1037 Americans showed that a large majority believe the US health care system has significant issues, The Hill reported. According to the article, 70% of respondents said they believe the health care system has major problems, compared with 30% who said it has no problems or minor problems. Last year, a similar poll found 71% of Americans said the system was in a state of crisis, the article reported.

The CDC reported that the flu appeared to be widespread in 30 states last week, but officials indicated that this year’s flu season is not as severe as it was last year, the Associated Press reported. According to the article, the CDC’s weekly flu update showed that approximately 6 million to 7 million Americans have become ill since the flu season began. The agency also said that approximately 70,000 to 80,000 individuals have been hospitalized, but it is still too early in the season to estimate deaths, the article reported.

A new report found that Americans are more likely to die from an opioid overdose than from a vehicle crash, The Hill reported. According to the article, recent data from the National Safety Council found opioid overdoses are now the fifth most likely cause of death, citing an increased influx of fentanyl. The report estimated that the odds of dying from an overdose are 1 in 96, compared with 1 in 103 for motor vehicle crashes, the article noted.