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U.S. respiratory virus cases hit 25-year high
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The flu cases are caused by a new variant.
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Here’s what doctors want you to know about the flu right now.
As predicted, the United States is dealing with a severe flu season. Influenza cases have surged over the past few weeks, with the country facing the highest levels of respiratory illnesses in 25 years, according to data shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the latest data, nearly 33% of clinical laboratory tests come back positive for influenza. Hospitalizations and outpatient doctor visits due to the virus have also increased significantly. We spoke with doctors to find out what they want the public to know about the flu right now.
Meet the experts: Amesh A. Adalja, MD, infectious disease specialist and senior scholar, Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security; Thomas Russo, MD, professor and director of infectious diseases, University at Buffalo, New York; William Schaffner, MD, infectious disease specialist, professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Asefeh Faraz Covelli, PhD, associate professor, George Washington University School of Nursing
Unfortunately, the latest report from the CDC indicates that things are likely to get worse before they get better. The UK and other countries had mixed experiences with the flu earlier this year, with public health officials predicting we were in for a difficult flu season. All of these cases were caused by a strain of influenza virus called subclade K.
Subclade K is a form of influenza A (H3N2). Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, said the variant mutated seven times this summer, creating a more contagious version of the flu. “Clade K largely evades prior immunity,” he said. This means that the immunity you may have built up through a flu shot or previous infection with a strain of influenza is not as effective against subclade K as it is against other strains of influenza.
Dr. Russo said the proportion of people getting flu shots has also dropped, meaning more people are vulnerable to getting sick and spreading the disease. Here’s what doctors want you to know to stay safe.
This flu is notorious for its severity
There are different types of influenza, but influenza A and B can exacerbate infections in humans, Dr. Russo said. Although both types circulate annually, influenza A usually causes large-scale epidemics.
Unfortunately, Dr. Russo said, influenza A also tends to be particularly severe. Still, he noted that “the flu always needs to be taken very seriously.”
Subclade K doesn’t necessarily present with different symptoms, but Dr. Russo said he’s noticed more people experiencing severe flu this season.
Just in case you need a refresher on flu symptoms, the CDC labels these symptoms as the most common:
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Having a fever or feeling like you have a fever
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Vomiting and diarrhea (although this is less common)
Vaccines are still worth your time
As we mentioned above, the K clade has some mutations that make it more contagious and better able to evade any immunity you may have built up. This means the flu shot may not be as effective at preventing infection as it was in the past.
According to data shared by the UK government, the flu vaccine is 30 to 40 per cent effective in preventing adults from going to the emergency room with the flu, and up to 70 per cent effective in preventing children from going to the emergency room. That doesn’t sound great, and it’s not ideal, but doctors say it’s still worth getting a flu shot if you haven’t already.
“Even if the influenza vaccine does not provide a high level of protection against infection, it is still effective in preventing what matters most: severe illness,” said Amesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
“The flu is a serious illness. Even normal, healthy people can end up in the emergency room,” said infectious disease expert William Schaffner, MD, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “It’s too late to get vaccinated, but it’s not too late.”
Treatment options are available, but timing is important
There are two approved antiviral treatments for influenza: oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and baloxavir and marboxil (Xofluza). While you can technically take these medications at any time during your illness, they work best if you start taking them as soon as symptoms begin.
“Flu treatments (antiviral drugs) can shorten the duration of illness and prevent serious complications from the flu,” said Dr. Asefeh Faraz Covelli, associate professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing. (Ideally, she says, you should take them within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.)
Testing is crucial
If you develop flu symptoms (and they tend to come on quickly), Dr. Russo recommends getting tested for both the flu and COVID-19 at home. (While home flu tests are not as well-known as at-home COVID-19 tests, there are many.) However, if you only have an at-home COVID-19 test, you can use it to rule out a specific virus.
After you get your results, call your health care provider to learn about next steps.
They’ve seen worse
There’s a lot of discussion about how bad this flu season will be, and doctors agree that cases are high. But Dr. Adalja noted that he has seen worse. “It’s not the worst season as far as hospitalizations,” he said.
Ultimately, do your best to prevent the flu (such as wearing a mask and washing your hands) and call your doctor if you develop symptoms.
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