2017-18 Flu Season Is Looking Like a Bad One
Adapted from article by Chris Hendel (consumerreports.org)
Early signs suggest that this flu season is shaping up to be a severe one.
The flu season in Australia, often seen as an indicator of how the flu might play out in the U.S., was especially severe, says Jeffrey Shaman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of environmental health sciences and director of Columbia University's Climate and Health Program.
Preliminary estimates by the Australian government show that a virulent strain of influenza called H3N2 was most responsible for Australia's unusually high number of flu cases, which resulted in 29,000 hospitalizations and 745 deaths in 2017, more than twice as many as the average over the preceding five years. H3N2 is the very same strain that has been circulating early this flu season in the U.S.
How to Protect Yourself From the Flu
According to the CDC on Dec. 7, about 3 in 5 Americans have not gotten their flu shots yet this season. However, it's not too late to protect yourself. Just remember that it can take up to two weeks after you've had your shot for your immunity to kick in. In addition to getting that flu vaccine, our medical experts offers these three tips for avoiding germs this time of year:
- Because dry air helps the flu virus live longer, consider using a humidifier to keep humidity at 30 to 50 percent.
- Avoid touching your nose and eyes, to reduce the chance of transferring any virus you might have on your hands.
- Wash your hands often. Use soap and water, and rub hands together for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
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