In last week’s blog, I discussed the coronavirus. This virus has dominated headlines recently as the death toll has raised to an alarming over 700 infections. Although this outbreak is one of the most biggest that has been seen in the world in recent years, it has caused all eyes to be taken off another illness that is affecting millions- influenza. Influenza, also known as the flu, is a disease that has been prominent in the public for years. Every year, we are slammed with commercials about getting flu shots or we are nagged at by our parents to go in and get the shots done. No matter how often it is instilled into our brains to get a flu shot, every year numerous people in America are infected with the illness, and this year is no different. Let’s take a look.
According to an article by CNN, the flu infection rate has dramatically increased during the beginning week of February after it had been on a steady decrease at the beginning of the 2020 year. Both strains A and B have been about the same in activity for during this flu season, but there has been a slight increase in strain A in recent weeks. In the article it is stated, “the CDC estimates that this flu season, which started on September 29, there have been at least 22 million cases of the illness in the US, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths.” These numbers are very large, and as a college student it makes it even more alarming. College culture makes the spread of disease far more likely as students are housed in close quarters with each other and you are constantly in contact with multiple students.
As with most viral diseases, there are a multitude of preventative measures that can be taken. It is important that people regularly wash their hands, avoid coming into contact with those who are sick, and if you are infected immediately visit your health care provider. One of the best forms of protection against the flu is getting vaccinated, i.e. getting a flu shot. Around every year, the flu virus produces a new strain. This is the reason why it is recommended that we get flu shots every year, so that the vaccination can be geared toward the new strain for that year. Troy Brown, a Nurse Practitioner, discusses in his article how this season’s vaccination is only a 58% match for the B strain of the flu. This could be one of the factors contributing to the high numbers for the flu this year. Despite this, it is still important that we take the proper hygiene and preventative measures to stop flu activity from spreading even more.
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