US(Washington Insider Magazine) -Could this year’s flu season update point to a new pandemic? Likely not – but there is still excessive risk.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US is dealing with Flu, Covid, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Hospitals have been inundated with these illnesses with numbers estimating 6.2 million flu cases and nearly 3.000 deaths.
What makes this U.S. flu season update different from other years?
The early arrival of the flu season (beginning in October versus the normal December) have left hospitals unprepared for the influx of patients. Expectations are that cases will keep rising due to the start of the holiday season which often includes large gatherings of people. There are two strains of flu this year. The H3N2 strain of Influenza A makes up 76% of cases reported, with H1N1 making up the rest. According to CDC, both strains can cause severe illness.
One of the issues that has caused such a severe outbreak is the lack of people getting vaccinated. This leaves people with immune systems unable to fight off these infectious diseases. People were not accustomed to having their flu shots so early in the season.
What to expect in the 2022 U.S. flu season update
The next U.S. flu season looks fairly bleak. It appears that we can expect this flu season will last for several weeks or even months. A surge in the sickest patients are already affecting intensive care units. The latest flu activity data for the next U.S. flu season update shows a very high spread across the U.S., especially in New York City, Washington D.C. The states of Washington, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Mexico, Mississippi, Kentucky, Colorado, and California.
Signs of the flu are: sudden fatigue, body aches, cough, sore throat, fever, and headache. Over-the-counter medications will help deal with the symptoms, but rest and keeping hydrated as this illness runs its course is most important. Only your medical professional will know if you should seek advanced medical attention. A high fever, persistent and/or intensified symptoms, and severe headaches are reasons to seek medical intervention.
The best way to protect yourself from the flu is with the annual vaccine. A vaccination may not keep you from getting the flu, but it can prevent serious outcomes in people who get one and still get sick.
