Wearing A Mask And Social Distancing Will Pay Off Come This Year's Flu Season
With the COVID-19 pandemic appearing to have no clear end in sight as of now, it’s highly possible you haven’t really thought much about flu season. (Can we get a collective “ugh?”) But despite the fact that there's a health crisis already on our hands, experts agree we still need to be wary of when flu season is, and what this year's might be like.
There were an estimated 39,000,000 to 56,000,000 reported flu illnesses (with 24,000 to 62,000 deaths) in the U.S. during the 2019 to 2020 season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),which lasted from October to April. Similarly, the CDC reported that the previous season included an estimated 35.5 million illnesses and 34,200 deaths.
While the flu is often easier to skirt if you take precautions, like getting your flu shot in time, it’s definitely still nothing to mess around with. Here, two experts break down when flu season occurs in general and why—as well as what to expect this year.
When is flu season exactly?
Although there are regional differences, cases of the flu begin to pick up around October, peak in December through February, and can last until May, says Natasha Bhuyan, MD, an infectious disease specialist and family physician in Phoenix, Arizona.
There are several reasons that the flu tends to be worse in the fall and winter, she says. For one thing, "The influenza virus tends to prefer cooler, dry weather, as its viral capsule can survive better in these conditions," she explains. What's more, people also spend lots of time indoors during flu season, "making the virus more easily spread from person to person."
Can you still get the flu “out of season” though?
In a word, yes—the flu can technically circulate all year long, meaning you can get the flu anytime, says Dr. Bhuyan. It’s just less like to be transmitted to large numbers of people during the off-season. Additionally, when it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere; so if you travel to a place like Australia during their winter, you can definitely pick up the flu.
However, the virus isn’t as strong during the warmer seasons, and people aren’t as susceptible, so it’s generally pretty rare, adds LaTasha Perkins, MD, a family physician in Washington D.C.
How long will the flu last this 2020-to-2021 season?
During flu season, health care providers tend to see an increase of patients across primary care doctor’s offices, ERs, and hospitals, says Dr. Bhuyan. But thanks to the added element of COVID-19, it’s difficult to say.
“We often look to other countries in order to predict our own flu season in the U.S. COVID-19 has added a layer of complexity to the impending flu season this year,” says Dr. Bhuyan. However, the measures we're taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (wearing masks, staying at home, washing hands, and social distancing) are also things that can decrease transmission of the flu, she notes.
According to Dr. Bhuyan, countries such as Chile, South Africa, and Australia are already seeing this play out. Australia has even seen a decrease in ICU capacity than prior flu seasons, which public health experts credit to mask wearing.
“However, because COVID-19 cases are continuing in the U.S., it’s harder to predict the pattern of flu season,” she says. “Additionally, because the flu and COVID-19 have very similar symptoms, this is going to present some challenges in distinguishing the two viruses.”
“We’ve always told people to wash their hands and now people are taking that very seriously, and distancing is also helpful to help protect those around you,” adds Dr. Perkins. But Dr. Perkins stresses that the best and most important way to protect against the flu is by getting the flu vaccine. "With people being more educated about the way viruses are passed, and the effectiveness of vaccines, I hope more people will be open to getting the flu vaccine this year."
When can I get a flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is usually available in early September at doctor’s offices and drugstores. Dr. Perkins advises her patients to get the vaccine as soon as becomes available, although it’s never really too late. “You definitely want to get it before the peak of the season, but you can get it as late January or February,” she says. “Just remember that your immune system has to have time to learn how to mount a response—that could be a few days or more than a week to be most effective.”
According to Dr. Bhuyan, usually about 45 percent of adults get the flu vaccine. “If we can get that number above 80 percent (or better yet, 100 percent), it would dramatically reduce the number of flu cases we see this season,” she says.
Ultimately, it's important to remember that even though COVID-19 measures may help you to be better protected, we can’t forget that the flu can also be deadly and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. “If there is one message about the flu I hope the public hears: everyone needs to get the flu vaccine this season,” says Dr. Bhuyan.
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