December 21st 2024.
The flu season has officially arrived in the United States, according to health officials who announced the surge in cases on Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant increase in flu-related lab tests and visits to emergency rooms across the country. It seems that the flu has been steadily spreading for the past few weeks, as confirmed by Alicia Budd, an official from the CDC.
Thirteen states have reported high or very high levels of flu-like illness in the previous week, which is double the number from the week before. One of these states is Tennessee, where a sudden spike in sickness is affecting the Nashville area, as explained by Dr. William Schaffner, an expert in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. He mentioned that at a local clinic, which serves as an indicator of illness trends, about 25% of the patients are showing symptoms of the flu.
Louisiana is another state with a high number of flu cases. According to Dr. Catherine O'Neal, an infectious diseases doctor at the largest private hospital in the state, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, this week has been a turning point for the flu. She stated that many people are calling in sick because of the flu, and the demand for flu tests has increased.
However, there are other viruses besides the flu that can cause similar symptoms, such as fever, cough, and sore throat. Two of these viruses are COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is common in infants and the elderly. The latest data from the CDC shows a decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations since summer, with moderate activity nationwide and high activity in the Midwest according to wastewater data. RSV hospitalizations started increasing before the flu and may be leveling off now, but remain more common than flu admissions. Overall, RSV activity is low nationally, but high in the South, according to wastewater data.
The CDC has declared the start of flu season based on various indicators, including lab results from hospitals and doctor's offices, and the percentage of emergency room visits with a discharge diagnosis of flu. There is no dominant flu strain at the moment, and it is too early to determine how effective this year's flu vaccine will be, according to Budd.
Last winter's flu season was considered moderate, but it lasted 21 weeks and resulted in 28,000 flu-related deaths, according to the CDC. It was particularly dangerous for children, with 205 pediatric deaths reported, the highest number ever recorded. Budd believes that the length of the season may have played a role in the high number of deaths. Additionally, a lack of flu vaccinations may have contributed to the severity of the season. Among the children who died and were old enough to receive the flu vaccine, 80% were not fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
Vaccination rates for both the flu and COVID-19 are lower this year compared to last year. As of December 7th, about 41% of adults and children had received the flu vaccine, similar to the rate at the same time last year. However, vaccination rates for COVID-19 are even lower, with only 21% of adults and 11% of children being up to date. Flu experts strongly recommend getting vaccinated, especially as people prepare for holiday gatherings where respiratory viruses can easily spread.
Dr. Schaffner emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, stating that gatherings with loved ones, while heartwarming and fun, also provide the perfect opportunity for viruses to spread. He reassured that it is not too late to get vaccinated. However, Louisiana's health department has taken a step back from recommending flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, instead suggesting that people consult with their doctors about the shots. This decision has been met with criticism from public health experts and advocates who believe that it is irresponsible and dangerous to discourage people from getting vaccinated.
One advocate, Jennifer Herricks, founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, expressed her concern that people would die because of this policy. The state's surgeon general, Dr. Ralph Abraham, has previously expressed doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. In light of this, it is crucial for everyone to remember that vaccines save lives, and policies that discourage people from getting protected are harmful and dangerous. Let us all do our part in staying healthy and protecting ourselves and others from the flu and other viruses.
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