US health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about this year’s flu season – and are already seeing signs that the virus is spreading.
As the 2022-23 flu season gets underway, one high school in California is facing a “high number of absences” among students due to possible flu cases. Flu activity in the United States often starts to increase in October and usually peaks between December and February.
The current levels of flu activity are “much higher” compared to pre-pandemic years, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a bulletin to healthcare providers. “In previous years, an early start to the season was associated with a season with substantially higher influenza activity.”
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer put it bluntly: “Flu is definitely circulating here in L.A. County.”
The county is not unique in this regard. As of last week, “early increases in seasonal influenza activity have been reported in most of the United States, with the Southeast and south-central areas of the country reporting the highest levels of activity,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nationally, 4.4% of influenza tests reported to the CDC were positive over the week ending Oct. 15, agency data show. That’s up from 2.8% the previous week.
Officials generally recommend the flu vaccine for people 6 months and older. This year, officials are also suggesting those age 65 or older get turbocharged flu vaccines that are considered higher doses or “adjuvanted,” which helps trigger a stronger immune response.
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