The holidays came with a side of flu for many Americans, with 40 states reporting high or very high levels of illness last week, according to the latest government health data.
A lot of flu out there, said the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Carrie Reed.
Of course, there are a number of bugs that cause fever, cough, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms. One is COVID-19. Another is RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for infants and the elderly.
The most recent CDC hospitalization data and other indicators show that the flu virus is trending higher than the other germs, Reed said. Several seasonal flu strains are driving cases, with no dominant one, she added.
Pediatric hospitals have been busy since November with RSV, but influenza has now joined the party, said Dr. Jason Newland, an infectious diseases specialist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Now were really starting to roll, he added. Our hospitals are busy.
One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctors office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. That level last week was about equal to the peak of last winters respiratory virus season which occurred at the same time of year. Reed noted that most people avoid medical appointments over the holidays if they can help it, so the data in late December might be skewed by people who came down with sudden illnesses.
Last weeks flu activity was particularly intense in the South, Southwest and western U.S. The states reporting lesser amounts of suffering were mostly in the northern Great Plains and in New England.
So far this season, the CDC estimates, there have been at least 5.3 million flu illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths including at least 11 children.
Its not clear if this winter respiratory virus season will be any worse than others. So far it seems relatively typical, at least for kids, Newland said.
U.S. health officials recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccination, and they say its not too late to get a shot.
You should also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs can spread that way, health officials say. You should also wash your hands with soap and water, clean frequently touched surfaces and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Leave a Reply