Everything You Should Know About The Upcoming Flu Season

Each year, millions of people become sick — some even hospitalized with serious symptoms — due to influenza, commonly known as the flu. According to the CDC Foundation, an average of 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year.

When it comes to battling the flu, both knowledge and prevention are key. Banner – University Medicine is here to help guide you through this flu season with the following need-to-know information.

What Is The Flu?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The two main types of influenza viruses, Types A and B, are spread in people. The flu is spread person to person through droplets made when those with the flu cough, sneeze or talk within 6 feet of another person. Although person-to-person contact is the most common way the flu is spread, touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it might give someone the flu if they then touch their mouth, nose or eyes.

Those who get the flu may experience mild to severe illness. Among the common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and a runny or stuffy nose. You may feel better in a couple of days after symptoms begin, but the fatigue and cough could potentially last for two weeks or longer.

When Does Flu Season Occur?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the U.S., flu season occurs in the fall and winter. Flu activity peaks between December and February, but activity can last as late as May. Although seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round in the U.S., flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. While there is a general time frame of when flu season will occur, it’s important to note that it is always difficult to predict what a flu season will be like. Timing, severity and length of the season vary from one season to another.

What Can Be Expected From The 2021-22 Flu Season?

The 2021-22 flu season is already on par to become a significant flu season, according to experts. What’s behind this potential increase? According to the CDC, reduced population immunity due to lack of flu virus activity since March 2020 could result in an early and possibly severe flu season. The lack of virus activity during that period is likely due to people wearing face masks and staying home, hand-washing, school closures, reduced travel and physical distancing due to COVID-19. Additionally, a record number of flu shots were administered.

Learn More On How Flu Season Is Different During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How Does The Flu Differ From COVID-19?

One of the biggest differences between the flu and COVID-19 is how each is caused. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus first identified in 2019, and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because the symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are similar and they both cause respiratory illnesses, symptoms alone won’t confirm your diagnosis. The best way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to be tested.

Due to COVID-19, the U.S. has witnessed an “important 18 months for education,” according to Brandie Beuthin, RN, a regional director of infection prevention at Banner Health in Arizona. Vaccination, masking and social distancing have visibly helped keep rates of new COVID-19 infections low.

“In areas where vaccination uptake is low and masking/social distancing are not widespread practice, we’ve seen new rates of infections skyrocket (an enormous stress on our health care system and burned-out health care workers),” said Beuthin. “Utilizing these same behaviors to limit influenza infection is more important than ever to decrease the risk of illness and death in the geriatric and pediatric populations while preventing additional stress on the health care system and our health care workers.”

How Can The Flu Be Prevented?

Similar to protecting yourself against COVID-19, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself against the flu. Banner Health recommends the following:

• Getting your flu shot by the end of October, at the latest.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick.
• Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Washing your hands frequently.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

For those age 6 months and older (with rare exceptions), the flu vaccine is also vital in keeping protected against the flu. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. For optimal protection, it is recommended that people get the flu shot annually because the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time.

The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19; however, flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Vaccinating against the flu can help reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses in the community and reduce the burden on local health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also receive the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine during the same visit.

Similar to keeping protected against COVID-19, it’s vital to stay vigilant this flu season to keep safe. Continue to wear your mask, wash your hands, get vaccinated and take other precautions, so you and your loved ones can enjoy the months ahead.

Learn More About The Flu Shot And How You Can Get Vaccinated

Sources:
Banner Health: COVID-19 and the Flu: Know the Symptoms
Banner Health: Flu Shots
Banner Health: How Is Flu Season Different During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Banner Health: Know Your Flu Symptoms
CDC: About Flu
CDC: Flu Season
CDC: Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2021-2022 Season
CDC: How Flu Spreads
CDC Foundation: Flu Costs the U.S. More Than $87 Billion Annually
CDC: Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19