Winter viruses are raging right now, with flu 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’s much more to come.
“I feel confident that flu activity is going to be elevated for several more weeks,” said Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team.
The latest report reflects what was happening during the week ending Jan. 4 — right after the holidays — and suggests there was a slight dip in flu activity. That’s probably an anomaly, Budd said, because people are less likely to go to the doctor over the holidays and while on vacation.
Flu A strains are currently dominant, especially H3N2 and H1N1. While adults 65 and older are most likely to be hospitalized with the flu, the viruses that are circulating are hitting all age groups.
Seasonal flu tends to spike from December to February. People who become infected tend to get a sore throat, cough, runny nose, headaches, body aches and sometimes fever. Many people describe flu symptoms as feeling like they’ve been 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 may be another three months before the flu starts to quiet down.
It’s possible that B strains of the flu could spike later in the season, which is why Budd and other infectious disease experts say there’s still time to get a flu shot. Plenty of people remain eligible — especially children.
As of Dec. 28, just under 42% of kids had had their flu shot this season. This time last year, nearly 45% had received it.
So far this season, 17 children have died from the flu. The CDC does not track adult flu deaths, but estimates that at least 4,700 people overall 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 would be worth it.”
The CDC recommends the annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older.
The flu vaccine is updated every year to match the latest strain of flu that’s circulating, and, in general, reduces the risk of illness by around 40% and hospitalization by 60%.
Flu mostly spreads by droplets from sneezing, coughing and even talking. It can be transmitted within a week after symptoms begin. It’s most contagious, however, during the first three days of illness.
Avoiding contact with infected people, and regular hand-washing can help reduce the risk of infection. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be useful, but hand-washing is preferred, doctors say.
If you do catch the virus, antiviral medications like Tamiflu can help treat the symptoms and hasten recovery. These drugs are especially recommended for people at risk of serious complications, like those with lung disease, heart disease or diabetes.
Antivirals work best when started within one to two days after symptoms begin.
As with all viral illnesses, antibiotics are not effective against the flu, because they target bacteria, not viruses.
