November 19th 2023.
The flu season is here and it's making its presence known. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven states and territories have reported high levels of flu activity. Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia are all dealing with high flu activity. Puerto Rico has even declared an influenza epidemic.
Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert, told The Associated Press, “We’re off to the races.” This start of the flu season is earlier than usual, with December and January typically being the norm. However, the flu season began as early as October last year, and this year it is making an entrance in November.
The presence of other respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, is making things more complicated this flu season. The CDC estimates that at least 780,000 flu illnesses, over 8,000 hospitalizations, and at least 490 flu-related deaths (including one child) have been recorded so far this fall. Alicia Budd, the CDC’s team lead for domestic flu surveillance, said to Stat, “Really what we’re seeing is a more sharp increase in activity, week over week.” She also mentioned that this is a great time for people to get vaccinated, if they have been holding off.
African Americans tend to be affected with the flu at higher rates than whites, in part due to lower flu vaccination rates in the Black community. In 2021, vaccination coverage among white adults was 54%, compared to 38% for Hispanics, 41% for Native Americans, and 42% for Black adults, according to CNBC.
It's important to remember that the flu can be prevented with a vaccine. If you haven’t already, now is the time to get your flu shot. Additionally, there are other ways to avoid getting the office bug, such as washing your hands and avoiding close contact with sick people.
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