Flu cases are starting to rise, and we are already seeing a big influenza outbreak at the University of Michigan.
At the university, there have been over 500 cases diagnosed since October 6th, prompting the CDC to send in Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers to help the local authorities manage the outbreak. Most of the students who were infected (about 77%) had not received this year’s flu vaccine.
October is when we typically begin to see flu pop up, and it usually peaks between December and February. The timing isn’t unusual, BUT this is the first significant flu activity we have seen since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. All the of the measures taken to control COVID-19 (like masking, handwashing, physical distancing, school closures, staying home when sick, and vaccination) gave us an incredibly low flu season last year (We talked about it here.). This month in the US, influenza A(H3N2) viruses have been reported by labs spanning most of the country. And bad news: Flu seasons that have been predominated by influenza A(H3N2) virus type tend to be worse, particularly for older folks and kids.
Here is what we can do to prevent influenza for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities:
➡ Get the flu vaccine. The CDC recommends vaccination against influenza for everyone who is 6 months and older. Check out our earlier post about Flu Vaccine Myths.
🏠 Stay at home when sick. Keep those germs to yourself!
🩺 Get tested. It can be hard to tell flu apart from COVID-19, so get tested!
👍 Wash your hands. A lot.
😷 Wear a mask. Flu can spread in droplets when people cough or sneeze or even just talk.
💊 People who are at high risk of getting really sick or having complications from the flu should get treated with antiviral drugs. This is especially important for very young kids (under 2 years old), adults 65 years and older, people with certain chronic medical problems, people who are immunosuppressed, and pregnant people. Treatment with antiviral medication is more effective when started earlier (best within 48 hours after symptoms start but may improve outcomes even up to 5 days out).
💥 Did I mention get the flu shot? 😉 The flu vaccines protect again 4 different flu strains, including an update to the influenza A(H3N2) virus. Flu shots (even when they aren’t perfect) reduce infections, hospitalizations, and death.
Stay safe. Stay sane. Avoid the flu!
Those Nerdy Girls
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