Flu is on a major upswing in the U.S., new CDC data shows : Shots

This year's flu season is off to a rough start, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the virus emerged as expected, the number of cases is growing faster compared to previous years.

More than 19,000 flu patients were admitted to hospitals last week, up about 10,000 from the previous week, the data showed. new CDC data. To date, the CDC estimates that the flu has sickened at least 7.5 million people and killed more than 3,100 people.

The surge in incidence appears to be primarily caused by a new strain of the virus, subclade K of influenza A(H3N2), which appeared in Australia in the summer.

“Wherever we find this virus, we see a big spike in flu cases after that,” says Andrew Pecosvirologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In the US, “the timing is not much different from other flu seasons, but the number of cases and the rate of increase are not typically seen at this time of year.”

New York has been hit particularly hard, with state health officials announcing more than 71,000 cases last week, the most cases ever reported in one week in the state. But other states are seeing high levels of flu activity, especially in the Northeast, Midwest and South.

“The map is basically red,” Pekos says, pointing to high infection rates that are likely to increase in the coming weeks.

“When you see the curve start to go up, we just have no idea where it's going to stop,” he says. “This is a big concern right now in most of the medical community.”

What's driving the rise?

Scientists say there is no indication yet that this new strain is more severe or even more contagious than previous years. Florian Krammervirologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

But there have been changes in the virus that may allow it to evade our immune defenses, he says. “There is less immunity to it, and this allows the virus to spread very quickly and widely.”

There are some concerns about the flu vaccine this season may not be a perfect match to the new strain as it emerged after the formulation decision was made in February last year. “I think we will have a mismatch between the circulating strain and the vaccine,” says Demetre Daskalakis, who headed the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until resigned in August. “But the vaccine is still the best protection we have, even if it is imperfect.”

Preliminary data from the United Kingdom, which saw an early surge in flu this year, suggests a vaccine is on the way. efficiency from 30 to 40% to prevent hospitalization in adults. “These numbers are consistent with what you typically see,” says Krammer, although he emphasizes that these are preliminary estimates.

How to respond to a surge

Flu vaccines only provide protection if people get them, and only in the United States. 42% adults Got a flu shot this year. That leaves many people unprotected in the face of a likely severe flu season, Daskalakis said. He would like to see the CDC do more to encourage vaccinations.

“You don't see the robust connection you expected,” he says. “Normally you would expect to see more warnings from the CDC and more vaccination recommendations.”

In response to this criticism, a CDC spokesperson said: “CDC is committed to keeping Americans healthy during flu season. The CDC has launched a new national outreach campaign designed to raise awareness and give Americans the tools they need to stay healthy during respiratory illness season,” adding that “the decision to get vaccinated is a personal one. People should consult with their health care provider to understand their options for receiving the vaccine and should be informed of the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines.”

In an interview with NPR, Lisa Groskopf, a medical officer in the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasized the importance of vaccination. “It's definitely not too late to get a flu shot if you haven't already,” she says.

There are other ways to protect yourself.

“If you're using public transportation, if you're in a room with a lot of other people, if you're in a health care setting, wearing a mask is really smart,” Krammer says, especially higher quality masks. “Yesterday I was riding the subway in New York. I was wearing an N95 mask.”

Social distancing, especially when you or someone in your household is infected, can also help minimize the spread.

If you become infected, there are effective treatment options, especially if started within 48 hours of exposure. “If you get the flu, it's really a good time to see your doctor, get a diagnosis and then take the next steps,” Krammer says. “This is not an infection that should be taken lightly.”