What Season Is Flu Season

What To Do If You Get The Flu

• Stay home and avoid close contact with others until you have been without a fever for at least 24 hours .
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
• If you are very sick or at high risk of serious flu complications, ask your doctor about antiviral drugs as soon as possible. These medications are most effective if taken within 48 hours of getting sick, although they can still provide benefits if started later.
• The CDC does not recommend that you go to the emergency room when mildly ill. See the CDC treatment recommendations.

More news and information for STRS Ohio Health Care Program participants is available in the Health Care News section of the STRS Ohio website. Enrollees are encouraged to check it regularly.

How You Can Prevent The Flu

• Everyone 6 months and older should receive an annual flu vaccine.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water if soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

Dont Forget A Flu Vaccine This Season

Flu activity was kept low last season because of vaccination, social distancing, masking, school closures and limited travel. Now that pandemic restrictions are lifting, flu has a much higher chance of spreading. We can all do our part to prevent illness and hospitalizations caused by flu by getting vaccinated.

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Prevalence Of Other Flu

Another reason flu cases appear high, other diseases including respiratory syncytial virus are spreading widely and may be mistaken for the flu.

It is important to recognize that what is generally referred to as flu may not always be caused by the influenza virus, revealed Kessler.

Instead, he continued, they can be related to infection with several different viruses: influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus , parainfluenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2 , as well as others.

These viruses spread among the population in the same way and have many of the same symptoms such as fever, runny nose, coughing, and fatigue.

Unless a test is performed, it can be hard to distinguish between them.

A general increase in other viruses, such as RSV, is also likely due to the lifting of post-pandemic restrictions, added Arias, as we engage in closer contact with others while having reduced immunity.

that flu cases are currently high among populations in eastern states, such as New York, Virginia, and North Carolina.

This is not unsurprising, revealed Gohil, as in general, influenza infection usually moves east to west.

Arias explained this might be because the East Coast is faced with colder weather first, and viruses thrive in colder temperatures.

However, southern states such as Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are also being hit hard by the flu.

Historically, these areas are

Advice For Diagnosing Influenza

There is a spectrum of tests that can be used to detect influenza. Some of them are faster and more accurate than others. Typically, patients will need to see a nurse or physician to receive a diagnostic test for the flu. For more information about how influenza is diagnosed, review the CDCs guide for diagnosing the flu.

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When Should I Get A Flu Shot

To protect yourself from influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting your yearly flu shot during September or October.

It is a good idea to get a flu shot before the start of flu season to avoid getting sick with the flu. Even a late flu shot provides protection, especially when a flu season lingers into April or May.

What Can We Expect From Flu Season 2021 In Canada

We wont know what flu season in Canada will look like until its here we wont know much about everything from the strain to how much community transmission there will be. We can look to the southern hemisphere, now entering the spring season, for some clues as to what our flu season might look like, says both Chager and Dickinsonalthough this year, the southern hemisphere hasnt had much of a flu season .

Dickinson notes that the flu season in Canada is usually kicked off by someone travelling from the Southern Hemisphere. Just as the Southern Hemisphere is rounding out their flu season in September, someone flies into Calgary as it starts to get cool and starts the flu season here, Dickinson explains.

The hope is that if we follow social distancing guidelines and all the public health guidance thats been in place for COVID, we wouldnt see too much of a flu season, says Chager. But the reality is that people are heading back to the office and schools are reopening so were likely to see an increase of not just influenza but also COVID.

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How This Year Compares To Others

Flu-like illnesses and flu test positivity rates are higher this year compared to similar time periods in prior years, stated Gohil.

However, its not just the US seeing the earlier wave of infections. Influenza hit 2 months earlier in Australia, Gohil said, while Chile also experienced the same pattern.

The number of hospitalized individuals is also notably elevated compared to this time in previous years. The CDC reported that the cumulative hospitalization rateis higher than the rate observed in week 43 during every previous season since 2010-2011.

That said, it is the same population being admitted to hospital. As with previous years, hospitalizations have been highest in the elderly and the very young , Gohil shared.

For children, a less well-developed immune system is likely the reason for this, she continued. Meanwhile, elderly patients have a weakened immune system associated with aging.

How To Stay Protected This Flu Season

If youre concerned about catching the flu, the best thing you can do is get the flu vaccine. You should aim to get the vaccine between October and November, however you can get it at any point during flu season.

The flu vaccine can be administered very quickly and easily it is given as one injection in the upper arm and rarely causes side effects.

For people in high-risk groups, the flu vaccine is free on the NHS. People who dont qualify for a free flu jab can pay for the vaccine. At LloydsPharmacy we run a flu vaccine service every autumn. Visit your local store for more information.

Remember each year a new vaccine is created to offer protection against strains of the flu that will be prevalent in the upcoming flu season. To stay protected, you will need to get the vaccine every year.

References

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Who Should Receive The Flu Shot

Anyone older than six months old, says both Chager and Dickinson. Unless youve had an anaphylactic reaction in the past or have sensitivities to certain components, typically everyone over six months should be getting their flu shot, says Chager.

Even for those of us who are young and fit enough that were not likely to get seriously ill, the flu still takes three days out of your life, says Dickinson. And, if you get it, you can pass it onto other people around you. is a good thing to do to reduce the probability of transmission as well as the severity.

What Can People Do To Protect Themselves

While it is impossible to predict how big the 20222023 flu season will be, Schaffner says its safe to assume that there will be plenty of flu transmission during November and into December, since the western and northwestern parts of the U.S. have not yet been affected extensively.

The most important thing people can do to protect themselves from flu is get vaccinated, experts say. The CDC recommends that every person six months and older get the flu vaccine annually. That includes pregnant people. As cases are going up, now is the time to get your shot if you havent already. Experts note that the vaccine doesnt guarantee you wont get infected. But much like the COVID vaccine, it considerably reduces the risk of serious illness and hospitalization. You can get information on flu and COVID vaccination sites at Vaccines.gov. And its safe to get both shots during the same appointment.

The CDC estimates that, as of mid-October, more than 26 percent of adults had received a flu vaccine this fallslightly higher than the estimated 23 percent at the same time last season. This level of coverage is similar to the most recent flu season before the pandemic, when flu shot coverage was 29 percent in adults by the end of October 2019, according to the CDC.

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How Do We Know This Flu Season Is Bad

To measure the impact and severity of each flu season, health experts look at several indicators, such as tracking the weekly numbers of people hospitalized with the flu, the number of clinic/office visits for flu-like illness, the number of positive flu tests each week, and the number of deaths.

For example, the overall cumulative hospitalization rate is currently 26 for every 100,000 people. Per the CDC, this rate is higher than the cumulative in-season hospitalization rate detected during the same timeframe in previous seasons going back to 2010-2011 . Hospitalization rates are 9.6 times higher than the highest rates since the 2010-2011 season.

Bird Flu: Immunity Is Hope

2023-01-17T11:24:43.364Z

Thousands of seabirds have died in the past breeding season. An ornithologist explains why he hopes the die-off will stop next early summer. He has clues for a little hope.

Wolfgang Fiedler is an ornithologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Radolfzell.

He has been researching the migratory behavior of wild birds for years and its consequences.

Avian flu is often an issue, because the pathogen is widely spread in autumn with geese, ducks and other birds migrating from the north-east across Germany to the south.

The unusually long-lasting wave of infections last year surprised him.

He explains why there is also a spark of hope in it.

Pia Heinemann

Editor of Nature and Science

• Follow I follow

In the summer, empty nests of gannets and dead terns have caused a stir.

Bird flu had struck.

What is the current situation?

Wild birds are quieter at the moment, there is currently no major outbreak inland.

The epidemic has also abated somewhat on the North Sea coast.

But it is estimated that thousands of seabirds have died, the outbreak was stronger than the previous worst outbreaks in 2005/2006 and 2015/2016.

And with the terns, it also affected species that had previously hardly been infected in northern Europe.

The current wave of infections overshadows everything that has gone before.

Why is that?

It is probably passed on via ducks that hardly ever get sick.

Why are mallard ducks or their relatives possible vectors?

You dont know.

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Let Yourself Rest And Relax

Snuggle up in a cozy blanket while you marathon the latest streaming TV series. The Ugg Bliss Plush Sherpa Fleece is warm and comes in over a dozen soothing earth tones. Keep the rest of your flu-battle supplies nearby, but dont pass up any opportunity to doze off and let your body recuperate.

The Reason For The Season: Why Flu Strikes In Winter

Did you get your flu shot? If your friends are anything like mine, you heard this question at least a dozen times before Thanksgiving. You probably got your fair share of disdainful looks too, if you answered No. But why are we worried about getting the flu shot now and not in May? Why is there a flu season at all? After all, what does a virus living in a host who provides a dependable, cozy incubation chamber of 98°F, care whether it is freezing and snowy outside or warm and sunny? This question has bothered people for a long time, but only recently have we begun to understand the answer.

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Who Should Get A Flu Shot

Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine experts are again this year recommending that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, the CDC notes its especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

• Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care workers

Tips For Parents On Helping Prevent The Spread Of The Flu

Once the flu season has begun, parents must teach their children how to prevent themselves from getting the flu. This is especially important for children who suffer from long-term medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or neurological disorders. These and other conditions may complicate a flu infection, necessitating hospitalization.

The same precautions must be taken for children who are younger than the age of five, especially for children below the age of two. Flu infections have the potential to result in extreme discomfort and even death, so it is important that parents take action to help their children avoid getting sick this flu season.

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What Is Seasonal Influenza

Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. It is usually spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Flu season in Ohio can begin as early as October and run as late as March. However, it is not uncommon for sporadic cases to appear all year long.

Most people who get the flu usually recover in one to two weeks, but the flu can be deadly. An estimated 200,000 people are hospitalized with the flu each year in the U.S. On average, it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 flu related deaths many of which could have been prevented with a flu vaccine.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season. There are three kinds of influenza viruses commonly circulate among people today which include: Influenza A viruses, Influenza A viruses, and Influenza B viruses. Each year, these viruses are used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine.

Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 202122 Season

Influenza vaccines expected to be available in the United States for the 202122 season will be quadrivalent vaccines. For the 202122 season, U.S. egg-based influenza vaccines will contain HA derived from

For the 202122 season, U.S. cell culturebased inactivated and recombinant influenza vaccines will contain HA derived from

What This Means For You

This years flu season is getting off to an intense and early start. There are also other respiratory illnesses like COVID and RSV going around. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones are to get a flu shot and take precautions like wearing a mask and avoiding crowded places.

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Prepare For The Flu Season

As the summer ends and the weather gets colder, a new season of the flu approaches during September. Flu season is predominantly present during the fall and winter but can still occur year-round. Flu activity peaks between December and February and can last until May.

Whatis the flu?

Theflu is a virus that is spread by the influenza virus that infects your nose,throat and lungs. People that can be affected by the flu are young kids, those65 years and older, people with health conditions like heart disease or asthma,and those that are at higher risk of serious flu complications. The best way toavoid getting the flu or having less serious symptoms of the flu is to get theflu vaccine each year.

Whatsymptoms can I experience with the flu?

Flusymptoms can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms of the flu happen rightaway and include fever or feeling feverish or having chills, cough, sorethroat, runny nose or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, feelingtired, some people may have vomiting and diarrhea which happens more inchildren than adults.

Howdoes the flu spread?

Flu Vaccination: Get vaccinated at your local pharmacy, your health care provider, or health department. Get the vaccine before the flu begins spreading within the community, preferably September and October.

Common Influenza Complications For Children

When young children are infected with the flu, they usually experience the same symptoms as adultstypically fever, chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, sore throats, and headaches. In addition to these symptoms, they are also prone to be afflicted by potentially severe health complications following the contraction of the flu:

High Fever

A light fever in the range of 100-102 degrees F is a trademark symptom of influenza, but high fevers that exceed 104 degrees F may be more threatening to an individuals health. This is especially true for children and the elderly. To identify whether a fever associated with the flu may require investigation by a medical professional, evaluate the following potentially dangerous high fever symptoms:

• A temperature above 106.7 degrees F is extremely high and requires immediate medical attention.
• A constant fever, especially one that persists for 14 or more days, may be the sign of a more dangerous infection.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the tissue inside of a persons lungs. In children, pneumonia commonly stems from the same virus like influenza. Therefore, pneumonia can be prevented by a collective effort to reduce the number of germs that are allowed to spread. This disease entails nearly the same symptoms as influenza but to a far more serious extent.

Bronchitis

• Nasal congestion

Middle Ear Infections

• Muffled hearing
• Fluid draining from the ear

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