Catching A Bug: The Latest Updates On Flu And Other Circulating Viruses

The warnings have been evident, as we forecasted in our December post. From both international data and domestic trends, it appeared we were going to have a bad flu season this winter, and now the data confirms that. According to the most recent CDC data, at least 11 million people have become sick with the flu so far this flu season, with 120,000 people hospitalized due to the flu and at least 5000 deaths recorded, including several children. And it’s only the second week in January. With high levels of flu activity predicted to continue for at least several more weeks, this flu season is shaping up to be record-breaking, with some experts stating that we’re seeing the highest levels of flu infection in the US in the last 25 years.

As we previously highlighted, the culprit this year seems to be a variant of the H3N2 influenza virus called subclade K, which had not yet appeared when this year’s flu vaccine was formulated. For those more at risk (especially young children and older adults), it’s recommended that you have anti-viral medications on hand should you begin to feel ill or be exposed to someone with flu-like symptoms (the flu often appears within 2-3 days of exposure). The CDC has published a list of the available and effective anti-virals, which do seem to work in response to subclade K. What else can you do to respond to this surge in flu? As Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, makes clear, “In the next 48 hours, if you haven’t been vaccinated, get vaccinated. Don’t wait.” While the vaccine cannot necessarily prevent infection with the subclade K variant, it can reduce the likelihood of serious illness and even hospitalization, which is helpful given the surge of cases currently populating emergency rooms throughout much of the country. And if you are traveling and want to do all you can to limit your risk of flu or other viral infections, grab your bottle of Purell and find out what you can do here.

While you’re getting your flu vaccine, you should also be aware that other valuable benefits derive from the vaccine beyond lowering your risk for flu. As Paula Span recently pointed out in her post on how vaccines help older adults, it’s been known for some time that flu vaccines confer the benefit of lowering your risk for a cardiovascular event, such as heart failure, heart attack, or stroke. We also know that the shingles vaccine appears to lower your risk for dementia, and the RSV vaccine has been linked with a lower rate of cardiorespiratory hospitalization in those who have been vaccinated. Why do these vaccines confer benefits beyond the illness for which they were developed? It appears that by preventing the risk of viral infection, you lower the rates of inflammation often associated with these other diseases. So, if you still haven’t gotten your flu vaccine now that we’re into the new year, time is of the essence. Roll up your sleeve and click here.

What about other viruses currently circulating? While COVID cases appear to be down from their peak earlier this year, it is still prevalent, and older adults are still susceptible to becoming infected and seriously ill. In fact, a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that even though COVID deaths declined from October 2022 to September 2024, older adults were more likely to become infected than younger people and were disproportionately represented among the infected, accounting for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths during that time. And just to keep you on your toes (and perhaps keep you up at night), you should know that epidemiologists around the country are currently tracking other circulating viruses that could pose problems for us in 2026 and beyond. With the rapid transit of viruses roaming throughout the world, now is not the time to be complacent or put away your caution. So hold onto that K95 mask and find out more here.