Former President Bill Clinton, seen here at the 2024 New York Times Dealbook Summit on Dec. 4, … [+]
Former US President Bill Clinton’s experience this week was a reminder of two things about the flu. First of all, it’s clearly flu season in the US. Second, the flu can cause some serious problems, potentially life-threatening problems. Therefore, thirdly, it is important to take flu prevention seriously. Okay, three things.
Bill Clinton was treated in a hospital for the flu
Mistaking the flu for a common cold can be like mistaking a lion for a house cat. Clinton, 78, was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on Monday after developing a fever. He was released from the hospital the next day after receiving medication and being observed. His deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña released a statement saying the following about the 42nd President, “He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.”
Clinton’s age, being over 65, puts her at higher risk for the worst effects from the flu. The same is true for younger children, people with a chronic medical condition, and anyone else who may have a weaker immune system. But just because you’re young and have the equivalent of Jack Reacher’s immune system doesn’t mean the worst of the flu, including death, can’t happen to you. As long as you have lungs and breathe air, you face at least some degree of danger. Plus, even if you don’t get sick enough to be hospitalized, you’re unlikely to say you just had the flu. a flu infection.
Flu numbers are up
Clinton certainly wasn’t the only one who caught the flu and ended up in the hospital recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the current flu season has already resulted in at least 1.9 million people sickened and 23,000 hospitalized. The death toll for the season so far is 970. These numbers are certainly nowhere near the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic numbers. But they’re nothing to sneeze at either.
Moreover, these numbers should increase significantly in the coming weeks. The CDC’s weekly US flu surveillance report showed that 9% of reported flu test results came back as positive during the week ending December 14, 2024, which was week 50 of 2024. That’s up from 5% to last week. That means the current surge in cases is likely to peak sometime in January before tapering off. This does not necessarily mean that the worst is over. Flu seasons in the past have had more than one peak when in
Two subtypes of influenza A have driven this increase in influenza
The main drivers behind this increase in influenza appear to be two subtypes of influenza A. Through the 50th week of this year, testing by public health laboratories in various parts of the US revealed 842 cases caused by influenza A viruses. and 29 of the influenza B viruses. They subtyped 593 of the influenza A viruses, finding that 274 or 46.2% of them were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 317 or 53.5% were A(H3N2) and 2 or 0.3% were A(H5).
Now, just because you have flu-like symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have the flu. Only testing will tell you if you have the flu versus a potpourri of other respiratory viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms including respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus.
Only testing will be able to determine for sure if it is COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to the flu, although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is somewhat like the reality show competitor of respiratory viruses. The symptoms that SARS-CoV-2 can cause are less predictable and include a wider range of possibilities. While flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly about 48 hours after exposure and immediately worsen before peaking and then improving, the symptoms of COVID-19 can jump in all kinds of patterns. Plus, there’s no such thing as long flu that’s comparable to long COVID.
How to protect yourself against the flu
The best way to prevent ill effects from the flu is to avoid getting the flu in the first place. It really helps to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s not too late to get the flu shot as it takes about two weeks for the vaccine’s protection to fully kick in and the flu season usually lasts at least until spring and in some cases until May.
Washing those sharp paws you call hands helps a lot too. I have previously written about Forbes how bad many people are at washing their hands. Remember to wash your hands often and thoroughly. The following illustration shows how to do this properly:
(Illustration: Getty)
Raise your hands for at least 20 seconds, which is about enough time to sing from the beginning of “I Touch Myself” to the first chorus.
And that six-foot warning you heard so often at the start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic still stands for the flu. Respiratory droplets containing influenza viruses tend to be larger than those containing SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, gravity keeps things coughed or sneezed by someone infected with flu viruses from traveling more than a distance to Ryan Gosling or whoever your favorite pedestrian might be.
If you get the flu, taking an antiviral drug like Tamiflu or Relenza can help reduce the severity and duration of your symptoms, but only if you take it quickly. Such antivirals prevent the virus from reproducing in your respiratory tract. But the greatest amount of replication occurs within the first 48 hours after initial exposure to the virus.
Finally, don’t listen to those people who say the flu is no big deal, that it’s no worse than the common cold. People may hear claims that contradict scientific evidence, but viruses do not.
