Widespread illness is currently affecting many people. Dr. Luis Ostrosky, chief of infectious disease at UTHealth Houston, notes the pervasiveness of the flu.
This is supported by data. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports at least 24 million flu cases in the U.S. so far this season, a number that continues to rise.
During the week ending February 1st, nearly 8% of U.S. outpatient medical visits were due to respiratory illnesses, including the flu—a figure among the highest in two decades, according to the CDC. The CDC reports that 45 states and territories are experiencing “high” or “very high” flu activity.
Dr. Mark Rupp, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, describes this flu season as one of the worst in recent memory.
The reasons for this severity are complex and not fully understood. Factors such as the specific viral strains and other variables influence the severity of flu seasons, according to Dr. Rupp.
Low vaccination rates may also be a contributing factor. As of late January, U.S. vaccination rates were significantly below the CDC’s 70% target, with approximately 44% of Americans vaccinated. While this is comparable to recent adult vaccination rates, it’s lower than usual for children.
The effectiveness of this year’s flu shots remains to be fully determined. However, recent CDC data from the Southern Hemisphere suggests only modest protection. In five South American countries, the vaccines reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalizations by about 35% in high-risk groups.
If this holds true for the Northern Hemisphere, it would represent a low vaccine efficacy year, says Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of public health and epidemiology at Northwell Health in New York. The CDC estimates 310,000 flu-related hospitalizations and at least 13,000 deaths, including 57 children, this season.
In contrast, COVID-19 cases are lower. This is likely due to residual immunity from previous infections and the absence of new, highly transmissible variants, according to Caitlin Rivers, director of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Testing is recommended to determine if your illness is COVID-19, the flu, or another illness. Antiviral treatments exist for both illnesses, but they’re most effective when taken early, notes Rivers.
Regardless of your diagnosis, staying home while sick or wearing a mask in public is recommended. Preventive masking, particularly in crowded indoor spaces, is also advisable.
If you haven’t gotten a flu shot, it’s recommended to do so. While transmission rates might decrease in coming weeks, the flu won’t disappear overnight, according to Farber.
Many flu seasons begin with influenza A, followed by a smaller wave of influenza B. Whether this pattern will repeat itself this year is uncertain, but possible.
In conclusion, with the flu season likely to continue for several months, vaccination is recommended, says Ostrosky.
