Rates of the flu are already spiking in at least seven states.
It’s that time of year again. We’re seeing an uptick in flu cases in some parts of the U.S. — just in time for the holidays. Here’s what experts say we’re in for, where rates are rising, and a look at this year’s flu shot.
When is flu season?
Typically, flu cases peak between December and February. But last year, it began circulating earlier, taking hold in October, and this fall it’s ramping up in November, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. So far this season the agency estimates there’ve been at least 780,000 flu illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths.
Where is the flu spreading?
According to the latest report published by the CDC, the flu’s taken off in several states, mostly in the Southeast. Flu activity in Louisiana is in the “very high” range, while Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, New Mexico, Florida, and the District of Columbia have reported a “high” level of cases, per the CDC. Puerto Rico, whose health department declared a flu epidemic earlier this month, is also weathering a spike. (The U.S. territory, which has a population of about 3.2 million people, has seen at least 25,900 cases, 900 hospitalizations, and 42 deaths since July.) Rates are moderate but rising in other parts of the country, including California, Texas, and Tennessee.
Some early forecasts predicted that this year would look more like an average flu season, compared to the atypical cycles we saw through the pandemic. That still seems to be the case, Alicia Budd, the CDC’s team lead for domestic flu surveillance, tells STAT — although she still warned that because influenza can be so unpredictable in nature, things could change quickly.
Flu symptoms 2023
The flu symptoms this season are similar to what we see most years. You may experience a fever, chills, a cough, sore throat, sinus issues like a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and fatigue. Most people who get the flu usually recover in a couple days to a week, but the virus can complications, that can be life-threatening, the CDC says. Young children and people 65 and older are more likely to develop these flu-related complications if they get sick.
What to know about the flu vaccine’s effectiveness
This year, the dominant variety of flu going around is known as influenza A H1N1. (If that sounds familiar, it’s because an H1N1 virus was behind the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic, and it still commonly circulates as a seasonal flu.) There’s some influenza B spreading too, per CDC data.
Thankfully, this year’s flu shot formulation seems to protect well against both, Budd says. One study found that the new flu vaccine reduced the risk of flu hospitalizations by 52 percent. So far, only about 35 percent of American adults have gotten their flu shots, while 32.6 percent of kids 6 months to 17 years old have received the vaccine. That uptake’s a few percentage points lower than this time last year, Budd says.
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who haven’t gotten the jab yet, you may have missed your window if you were hoping to protect yourself for your Thanksgiving gathering. Experts say the shot’s effective if taken at least one week ahead of time, USA Today reports. But of course, it’s not too late to get vaxxed before the other holiday mixers you may have on the calendar.
