Winter viruses are spreading right now, with influenza leading the way at extremely high levels in the West, across the Midwest and deep into the Southeast, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday.
Flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise, and experts predict there will be more to come.
“I feel confident that influenza activity will rise for several more weeks,” said Alicia Budd, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Influenza Surveillance Team.
The latest report reflects what happened during the week ending January 4 – just after the holiday – and indicates there was a slight decrease in influenza activity. This is likely an anomaly, Budd said, because people are less likely to go to the doctor during the holidays and while on vacation.
Influenza A strains are currently prevalent, especially H3N2 and H1N1. While adults 65 and older are most likely to be hospitalized with influenza, circulating viruses infect all age groups.
Seasonal influenza tends to rise from December to February. People who become infected tend to have a sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, body aches, and sometimes fever. Many people describe flu symptoms as feeling like they were hit by a truck.
Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and author of Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks, suggested it could be another three months before the flu begins to subside.
Influenza B strains will likely surge later this season, which is why Budd and other infectious disease experts say there’s still time to get a flu shot. Many people remain eligible – especially children.
As of December 28thjust under 42% of children got the flu vaccine this season. At this time last year, nearly 45% received it.
So far this season, 16 children have died from the flu. The CDC does not track flu deaths among adults, but estimates that at least 4,700 people have died so far this season, with more than 110,000 hospitalizations.
“If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, there’s still time,” Budd said. “It will be worth it.”
Center for Disease Control recommend Annual influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.
The influenza vaccine is updated every year to match the latest circulating influenza strains and, overall, reduces the risk of illness by about 40% and hospitalization by 60%.
flu It spreads mostly by droplets From sneezing, coughing, and even talking. It can be transmitted within a week after symptoms begin. However, it is most contagious during the first three days of illness.
Avoiding contact with infected people, and washing hands regularly can help Reducing the risk of infection. Doctors say that alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be useful, but it is preferable to wash hands.
If you become infected with the virus, Antiviral medications Such as Tamiflu can help treat symptoms and speed up recovery. These medications are especially recommended for people at risk of serious complications, such as those with lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes.
Antiviral medications work best when started within a day or two after symptoms start.
As with all viral diseases, antibiotics are not effective against influenza, because they target bacteria, not viruses.