The U.S. flu season is underway, with at least seven states reporting high levels of illnesses and cases rising in other parts of the country, health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. It was also high in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory where health officials declared an influenza epidemic earlier this month.
“We’re off to the races,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert
Traditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January. But it took off in October last year, and is making a November entrance this year.
It’s a good reminder to get your shot at least. Flu is no joke and kills usually about 30 thousand to 50 thousand people a year in the US.
Also a new vaccine this year not a lot of people know about is available for respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) which any parent can tell you is a nightmare for young children. Also deadly to older adults. Information on who should get that vaccine Here . Basically pregnant individuals, young children and infants, and adults over 60.
I used to be pretty blasé about the flu shot. I was always thinking that I was young and that the shots should go to the elderly and vulnerable. Didn’t realize I was a vector of passing it on.
COVID changed me quite a bit. Got my doses as soon as I could. I mask up crowds too. Not sure it matters but I don’t think it hurts much either.
That’s all great stuff to do! You never know, getting a vaccine could save another’s life or your own. And flu is a nasty virus for anyone. Besides upper respiratory symptoms it can do things like pneumonia, septic shock, guillan barre syndrome, myocarditis, rhabdomyolysis, encephalitis, the list goes on.
I never used to get the flu shot and rarely got the flu (like twice in 20 yrs or so). That changed in '08-'09 when I got hit with the Norwalk and it kicked my ass for weeks.
Now I get whatever shots are available.