Post-Holiday Spike in Flu & Other Respiratory Illnesses

Current Stats

According to the CDC, seasonal flu activity is high and continuing to increase across the country. This flu season, it’s estimated that this season there have been 8.7 million cases of the flu, 78,000 of which required hospitalizations - this is the highest rate of infection & hospitalization at this point in the season since the 2010-2011 flu season (Centers for Disease Control, 2022). Here in Washington, there were over 1,200 new flu cases reported from November 13th-19th, and the prevalence of influenza-like illness is listed as very high by the Washington State Department of Health (2022). To-date, there have been 13 confirmed deaths from the flu in WA (WADOH, 2022).

Across the country, there has been a significant rise in respiratory illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has had an alarming surge amongst children in the U.S. (McPhillips, 2022). Cumulative hospitalization rates for RSV are ten times higher than is typical for this point in the season (McPhillips, 2022). The rise in RSV cases is straining an already overburdened healthcare system, which has been experiencing staffing and supply shortages for months.

Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (2022) requested that the president declare an emergency to support the national response to the surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses including RSV and the flu. If granted, this emergency declaration would allow a waiver of certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements and allow healthcare providers to share resources in an effort to provide care for community members and have access to emergency funding to treat the influx of patients experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Preventative Measures

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us now have a good idea of how to minimize our risk of viral illnesses. Below are a few key reminders and strategies to avoid contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses this season.

  1. Support and optimize your immune function. Optimizing your Vitamin D3 K2 levels is a great place to start - talk to your doctor to explore what you need to best support your immune system. If you do get a respiratory illness this season, check out our Immunitea recipe to help combat your symptoms.

  2. Stay home when you are sick. If you have children and are able to, keep them at home if they aren’t feeling well to avoid spreading respiratory illnesses to other families.

  3. Wash your hands. Frequently wash your hands throughout the day, using soap and scrubbing for at least twenty seconds.

  4. Clean frequently touched surfaces like door knobs and phones

  5. Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces & around high-risk individuals to help minimize the spread of RSV, flu, and COVID.

  6. Consider getting vaccinated. Per the CDC (2022), a flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. The flu vaccine helps to prevent infection and avoid serious outcomes for individuals who have a breakthrough infection. COVID-19 booster shots are also available. Currently there is no vaccine for RSV.

 
 

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, December 2). Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

McPhillips, D. (2022, December 3). As respiratory viruses strain US health care systems, Biden Administration tells states how it's ready to help. CNN. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/02/health/flu-respiratory-viruses-hospitalization-increase/index.html

Washington State Department of Health [WADOH]. (2022). Washington State Influenza Update . Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/filefield_paths/420-100-FluUpdate.pdf

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