Michigan Seeing Rise In Cold And Flu As Physicians Consider Longer Sick Season
Physicians remind residents of the importance of washing your hands and screening for symptoms as more cases of influenza and other seasonal illnesses pop up following the ditching of community masking. Cory Morse | MLive.com
Michigans cold and flu season typically begins its wind down in April as the weather begins to warm and residents open their windows and get outside more.
However at least a few health officials think this years season might stretch a little later into the spring as theyve seen an uptick in non-COVID illness following the communitys ditching of mask requirements.
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Can I Get The Flu Year
While it is possible to catch the flu during the year, it is much more probable to contract it between October and March.
There are several possible reasons why flu season spikes in the winter:
1. People are indoors more often and in close contact with others, which makes it easier for the virus to spread
2. Colder and less humid air is likely more conducive to the spread of the flu, as the virus can live for longer in these conditions.
3. Due to fewer daylight hours, our vitamin D and melatonin intake decrease, weakening our immune system.
The Flu Vaccine Helps Protect You And Your Family From The Flu
Millions of people get influenza every year. While it may be common, seasonal flu is a potentially serious disease. It can lead to hospitalization and even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .1 Thats why its recommended to get a flu vaccine every year to help protect yourself and your family.2 The flu vaccine can help:
- Weaken or prevent the flu
- Reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40 percent to 60 percent during seasons when the flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses1
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Why The Flu Is A Concern
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness thats caused by influenza viruses, according to the CDC. The flu can cause illness that ranges from mild to severe, and it can be deadly.
The flu mainly spreads through tiny droplets that are created when someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks, the CDC explains. Those droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of other people and infect them. Its less common, but a person might get the flu by touching an infected surface and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and they can vary, but the CDC says they generally include the following:
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fever or feeling feverish/having chills
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cough
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vomiting and diarrhea
When Does Flu Season Begin And End
While different flu viruses are detected year-round, flu season generally runs from October to May, and peaks in December until February. This is why it is crucial for employers to set up flu shot clinics early, as many onsite flu shot clinics take place from late August to mid-October.
Also, because flu shots take 14 days before fully protecting you, earlier flu shot clinics are ideal.
You might be wondering, What happens if I wait to schedule my clinic? There is a higher risk of the following due to flu illness:
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Loss of workplace productivity
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More used paid sick time
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More insurance-paid doctor appointments
Read Also: Do You Need Health Insurance For Flu Shot
Flu Season Is Underway In Colorado How You Can Protect Residents Who Are Most Vulnerable
DENVER, CO | February 16, 2022
Flu season is officially here in Colorado, with 461 positive influenza cases reported on January 1, 2022 by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. To help prevent the flu in people who are at high risk for severe complications, the American Lung Association and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation released a toolkit specifically for caregivers of adults 65 and over through their Fend Off Flu campaign. Influenza is a serious and highly contagious disease that can have severe health consequences for all, and especially for vulnerable adults 65 and older, and those with chronic health conditions. The new toolkit is a resource to educate caregivers including healthcare providers and personnel in long-term care settings about the flu and the importance of vaccination to protect adults 65 and older.
Nationally, 50-70% of flu hospitalizations were in patients over 65. Flu shots are especially important for healthcare workers and caregivers of vulnerable adults, said Jonathan Sollender, MD, MBA, FACS, regional vice president and senior clinical officer for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado. Not only will getting a flu shot help reduce the chance of catching the illness, but it will also help reduce the severity if its contracted. Especially for people with underlying health conditions, the flu can turn into a serious, even deadly, illness.
For more information, contact:
Q: When Does The Flu Season Start In Wisconsin And How Long Does It Last
A: The influenza season got an early start this year in Dane County mid-August, according to Public Health Madison and Dane County.
Typically, the influenza season in the United States starts as early as October and can go through May, with its peak between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Between mid-August and early October, there had already been five flu-related hospitalizations in Dane County. Last season, there were 337 hospitalizations.
The flu, a respiratory disease, is spread from person to person when droplets of moisture from an infected person spread through the air by coughing, sneezing or talking, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Symptoms include a fever, chills, a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.
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Flu Shot: Your Best Bet For Avoiding Influenza
According to the CDC, the flu is a potentially deadly illness that can result in hospitalization and death. It goes on to say that millions of individuals in the United States acquire the flu each year, and tens of thousands of people die as a result of flu-related illnesses. Ear infections, bacterial pneumonia, and chronic health issues including diabetes and heart failure are all complications of the flu.
The flu vaccine may be your best hope for avoiding influenza, since it has been found to minimize the risk of flu-related illness, hospitalizations, and fatalities in children, according to the CDC. The CDC says that it may even lower the severity of disease in those who get breakthrough infections after being vaccinated.
Who Should Get The Flu Vaccine
Every season, the CDC advises that everyone six months of age and older get the flu vaccine. It does, however, state that some persons may require different immunizations than others. According to CDC recommendations, pregnant women should not take the nasal spray flu vaccine due to an increased risk of complications.
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When Is Flu Season In The Us
Flu season varies across the world: The southern hemisphere, which has its summer when we have our winter and vice-versa, goes through flu season during opposite times as the northern hemisphere, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The exact timing of flu season can vary but, in the U.S., flu activity usually starts to pick up in October, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Cooler weather drives more people indoors, explains Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. More people inside means theyre more likely to transmit viruses, he says.
From there, flu season typically peaks in December and February, before petering out in the springtime. Some seasons, heightened flu activity can last as late as May, the CDC says.
What Is Influenza Why Does It Make So Many People Sick During The Year
Influenza, or the flu, hospitalized over 500,000 patients each year and contributes to 40 million flu-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The disease is able to infect so many people because of its ability to spread quickly and adapt each year.
The flu spreads as infected individuals pass the virus through airborne and peer-to-peer contact. This includes coughing, sneezing, handshaking, and general contact. Each year, the flu spreads in both rural and urban communities at a peak during the late fall/early winter. This is because people tend to stay indoors more, which increases the chance of transmission.
Influenza can be especially dangerous to more vulnerable patients including those with respiratory issues, asthma, older patients, infants under two years old, and patients over 65.
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What About The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
The nasal spray vaccine, FluMist, is once again being recommended by the CDC for adults and children. In recent flu seasons, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics had recommended flu shots only for kids because of questions about well the spray worked. But the manufacturer appears to have improved the spray, so the CDC and AAP say parents can go either way shots or spray.
Also Check: What If I Get 2 Flu Shots
Seasonal Flu And Covid
Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus and seasonal flu is caused by infection with one of many influenza viruses that spread annually among people.
Because some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, people may need to be tested to tell what virus is causing their illness. People can be infected with both a flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time. In general, COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. Compared with people who have flu infections, people who have COVID-19 can take longer to show symptoms and be contagious for longer. This FAQ page compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.
Yes. It is possible to have flu and other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 at the same time. This is called a coinfection.
During the 2020-2021 flu season, because of historically low flu activity, flu and SARS-CoV-2 coinfections were relatively rare. As flu viruses circulate in greater numbers along with SARS-CoV-2 in the 2021-2022 winter season, we would expect to see more coinfections. CDC is using surveillance data to help determine how common it is in the 2021-2022 winter season for people to be infected with flu and SARS-CoV-2 at the same time. CDC will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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A Massive University Of Michigan Flu Outbreak Has Prompted A Cdc Investigation
A massive flu outbreak at the University of Michigan has caught the attention of public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The CDC sent investigators to the Ann Arbor campus this week to learn about the dynamics of the outbreak as the U.S. enters its second flu season in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
The first positive test was on October 6, according to the colleges newspaper The University Record. Since then, 528 cases have been diagnosed by the University Health Service on campus, with a large upswing over the past two weeks. During the week of November 1, UHS diagnosed 198 new cases, with 27% of all tests performed coming back positive. The week of November 8, there were 313 new cases, and the positive test rate increased to 37%.
Its normal for cases of the flu to start going up as early as Octoberwith flu activity typically peaking between December and February, per the CDCbut an outbreak of this size so early in flu season is concerning. While we often start to see some flu activity now, the size of this outbreak is unusual, Juan Luis Marquez, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the Washtenaw County Health Department , told The University Record. Experts worry about what it could indicate more broadly for the upcoming flu season. This outbreak doesnt necessarily have an immediate impact on the broader local community, but it does raise concerns about what the flu season may bring, Dr. Marquez explained.
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Taking Antivirals To Treat Influenza
Antiviral drugs are prescription medications that fight viral infections. While the flu vaccine is highly effective for preventing the spread of influenza, it is not a guaranteed way of preventing the disease. When a person catches the flu, antiviral drugs may help the individual avoid a trip to the hospital. This medicine can potentially reduce the severity of symptoms and cut the length of the sickness by up to two days. There are currently two approved antiviral drugs for children that can be used this flu season:
- Oseltamivir: Recommended by the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics for treating influenza in children as young as two weeks old.
- Zanamivir: Suggested medicine for treating children as young as seven years old.
This CDC guide to antivirals contains more information about who can take antiviral drugs and what impact they may have on ones health.
During flu season, parents must keep track of their childrens health. If they can catch the signs of an influenza infection early, they can better comfort their children and take action to prevent them from spreading the flu to their peers and classmates. Furthermore, identifying a case of the flu early on has the added benefit of allowing parents to track a childs condition as the disease progresses.
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The Fever Is Gone Why Is My Child Still Coughing
Fever disappears when the immune system starts producing antibodies to fight the virus. The cough normally continues for two or three weeks due to a damaged lining of the throat and windpipe. Recent research showed that honey was more effective at quieting coughs than over-the-counter cough medicines. If coughing is non-stop and interferes with normal activities, however, your child should see a doctor to rule out underlying asthma, which can be well-controlled with asthma medicines.
Why Do Some People Not Feel Well Or Feel Like They Have Flu Symptoms After Getting A Flu Vaccine
While a flu vaccine cannot give you the flu, there may be times when you dont feel well after getting your flu vaccine. Heres why:
- You may get some mild and temporary side effects after your flu vaccine, such as soreness or redness where you got your shot, muscle aches, headache or a low fever. These common side effects usually begin soon after you get the vaccine and last 1-2 days. These reactions are a sign that your immune system is working and that your body is building protection against flu.
- You could become sick from other respiratory viruses that are spreading during flu season. A flu vaccine only protects you from the flu, not other illnesses like COVID-19 or the common cold.
- You could encounter flu viruses, which cause the flu, shortly before getting your flu vaccine or during the 2 weeks after getting the vaccine when your body is still building immunity. As a result, you could get the flu before the vaccine has the chance to protect you.
- You could experience flu-like symptoms, even after getting vaccinated, because you were exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the viruses that the vaccine is designed to protect against. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people. However, even when the circulating flu viruses are not a perfect match to the strains in the flu vaccine, getting a flu vaccine should still help protect you against serious flu illness and its complications.
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One Of The Most Effective Changes In Health Behaviours To Prevent Flu Was A Record High Uptake Of Flu Vaccinations
When does the flu season start 2021. What to expect amongst covid |. In the united states, flu season occurs in the fall and winter. Although flu activity continues to increase in the united states, it remains low enough that the cdc does not consider the flu season to have started yet, a cdc expert said.
The influenza virus is present year round in the united states, so a person can get the flu during any month of the year. Flu season tends to peak between december and march. For the united states, most flu activity starts in october and ends in may.
In the northern hemisphere, flu season coincides with the colder winter months we usually see flu cases spring up in november and peter out in march . prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: Fdas vaccines and related biological products advisory committee met in silver spring, maryland, on march 5, 2021, to select the influenza.
Clinical laboratories were positive for an influenza virus. Flu season generally starts in october and goes into may. What does this mean for the 2021/22 flu season?
The agency will conduct targeted communication outreach to specific groups of people who are at higher risk for developing serious complications from flu. Often begins to increase in october and most of the time it peaks between december and february. Flu season can start in the united states as early as october and end as late as early may.
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