What to Know about This Year’s Flu
Worried about the flu? Here’s what you should know. And a bit about my run-in with this year’s flu.
You may have heard about how a lot of people are going to the emergency room for the flu. So far this season about 11 million people have gotten sick so far. Right now the number of people getting sick is still going up. The flu hasn’t peaked yet. (CDC FluView)
Don’t worry, this isn’t a super flu. But, it is a type of flu that makes more people sick (called subclade K). On top of that, the flu vaccine isn’t a great match. Every year scientists predict what type of flu will spread next year. But this year the flu mutated. This means the flu vaccine isn’t as good as other years.
The flu vaccine still protects you, though. It’s like if you trained for a race on flat trails. But then the race turned out to be on hills. Your training helped, but you would have been more prepared if you trained on hills. Just like your training wasn’t a great match, the flu vaccine isn’t a great match. It trains your immune system but not as well as if it was for the current strain. This means it’s still a good idea to get a flu vaccine.
The other good news is that you and I won’t get sicker than we would with any other flu. The flu is still really bad. But, luckily, it’s not more dangerous than normal.
Some people are more likely to get really sick from the flu no matter the type. You might have heard this called ‘at risk for flu complications.’ For example, someone who’s 65 years old is more likely to get very sick. We have medicines called antivirals that help protect these people. Thankfully, these medicines still work with the current flu as long as you take them soon after getting sick. You can read more about what puts you at higher risk of getting health problems from the flu on the CDC’s website.
How do you protect yourself?
- Flu vaccine – Even though it’s not the best match, it still helps your immune system fight the flu. It’s not too late to get it. It takes about two weeks to build protection. That means if you get vaccinated now, you’ll be protected for the rest of flu season.
- Wear a mask – The flu spreads when someone sick coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can get sick when you breathe in the droplets and virus from a sick person. Masks stop the virus from getting into your body through your mouth and nose.
- Protect other people – Feel sick? Stay home if you can. You can keep people safe in your home by coughing into your elbow or shirt, wearing a mask around them, and washing your hands. If you have to leave your house, wear a mask to protect other people.
- Wash your hands – This protects you if you touch something with the virus on it. Make sure to wash your hands when you get home, before you touch your face, or before you eat.
What I learned the hard way
I thought about wearing a mask on my flight home to see my family. But honestly, I was lazy. I told myself that I probably wouldn’t be exposed in the airport. And the air in the airplane goes through many filters.
Then I felt stuffed up two days into my trip. That night I had a fever. By the third day, I was very sick. I’m grateful I got the flu vaccine. Without it I probably would have been even sicker.
Since I was visiting family, I wanted to protect them. I was careful to wash my hands in the bathroom and anytime I touched my face or coughed. I always coughed into my shirt. And I was fortunate that I could easily avoid preparing food for other people (thanks to my parents and brother).
My parents stayed healthy. My brother, unfortunately, shared a car ride with me when I first got sick and got the flu. I’m grateful he was vaccinated and is recovering.
So, stay safe out there. The flu is nothing to joke about.
— Aaron
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