November 14, 2023 – In what seems to be like a return to a typical pre-pandemic flu season, instances nationwide proceed to rise slowly this fall, in keeping with knowledge from a nationwide infectious illness knowledgeable and pharmacies .
The flu continues to be not an issue, and officers are selling the flu exercise outcomes to remind folks to get their flu pictures as quickly as doable – earlier than an anticipated peak early subsequent 12 months .
Seasonal flu exercise is growing in most components of the nation, primarily within the South Central, Southeast and West Coast areas, the CDC stated in its launch. up to date numbers launched Monday. Over the previous week, the variety of constructive laboratory exams for influenza elevated by 3% and the variety of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases elevated by 2.9%.
Figures from a nationwide drugstore chain present the identical sluggish total enhance in instances and the very best flu exercise within the southern United States. As of November 4, 2023, Puerto Rico, Mississippi and Louisiana had essentially the most influenza exercise, the Walgreens Flu Index 2023-2024 watch.
“In the intervening time, exercise could be very low. There’s not a lot of a flu season but,” stated Pedro Piedra, MD, professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor School of Drugs in Houston.
The principle virus at the moment circulating is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), not influenza. “However that does not imply the flu will not occur. Viruses are available waves,” Piedra stated. “Till then, that is the most effective time to get vaccinated and put together for the flu season. »
The variety of weekly flu hospitalizations can also be growing, with 1,962 folks hospitalized throughout the newest week of CDC monitoring. Admissions are up barely from the earlier week, with the aged and kids underneath 4 accounting for many instances. The company experiences that one baby has died from the flu to this point this season.
“Whereas it’s nonetheless early and flu season continues to be unpredictable, our historic knowledge suggests this can be a return to a typical two-wave flu season, the place exercise begins to peak in December and peaks in February,” Kevin Ban, MD. , Walgreens’ chief medical officer, stated in an announcement.
Index influenza exercise is predicated on adjustments within the variety of antiviral drugs used to deal with influenza every week at Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacies in america. Knowledge can also be supplied by state and area.
“The index isn’t meant as an instance the severity of influenza, however quite, based mostly on this system, to indicate which populations expertise the very best incidence of influenza every week in america and Puerto Rico,” signifies a press launch from the corporate.
Piedra warned that different infections might immediate folks to purchase antiviral medicine. Knowledge on laboratory-confirmed flu infections, just like the numbers supplied by the CDC, can be extra correct, he stated.
