Here are the major differences between this years flu and previous years, as well as how to protect yourself and what to do if you get the flu. Health officials are warning this flu season could be one of the worst in history. Cdc recommends that people who are at high risk of developing serious flu complications and who get flu symptoms during flu season be treated with flu antiviral drugs as quickly as possible without waiting for confirmatory testing. Whats the difference between coronavirus, cold and flu. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less than a week.
What will the rest of the 20192020 flu season be like. Some people, such as older adults, young children, pregnant women. Flu season in florida could be worst in history south. In south florida, doctors say they are treating two strains of the flu and are sending people to the hospital. Sarscov2, the virus that causes covid19, continues to spread into communities worldwide.
The flu vaccine reduces the risk of catching flu, as well as spreading it to others. Flu report 20192020 flu season forecasts, stats, and. W hile you can get the flu at any time during the year, the fall officially marks the beginning of the flu season, since cases of the flu start to rise in october, peak between december and. Even if your case doesnt require a doctors visit, the flu is no picnic. But if you do get flu after vaccination, its likely to be milder and shorterlived than it would otherwise have been.
Here are some things you may not know about the 20192020 flu season, which is not like last years flu season. So, although at first glance, they act similarly, cause similar symptoms and illnesses, there are some differences, so lets take a. Everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine each year. Heres how to prevent the flu, plus information on flu treatment and diagnosis. Flu goes around every year, with some years being worse than others. Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, cdc says cnn. Although the symptoms of covid19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses. Influenza b strain dominating early in the 2020 flu season webmd.
While it is possible to get the flu even if you get the shot, vaccination reduces your risk of getting sick and may lessen the severity of symptoms if you do. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza flu. Influenza, or flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughs and sneezes of an infected person. The flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory system. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Different symptoms for coronavirus, flu, and allergies. If not, multiple outlets have reported this years flu season is off to its earliest start in about 15 years. The 20192020 flu season is up and runningand so far, its off to a weird start. Heres the difference between coronavirus and flu symptoms. Its important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever. While theres a lot of overlap between them, there are also key differences in the symptoms, incubation. Many are worried, as officials and medical experts urge people to take precautions to contain the virus.
Antiviral drugs can lessen your symptoms and shorten sick time by 1 or 2 days, according to the cdc. Getting vaccinated now with both seasonal flu vaccine and h1n1 flu vaccine will provide protection for you against flu for the rest of the season this winter and spring. Final estimates will be provided later this winter. Most people come down with it between december and february. The new treatment joins the other three antivirals for flu. Unusual type of flu virus is dominating early start to. Importantly, not only did the guinea pigs exhibit flu symptoms when they were inoculated by palese, but the virus was transmitted from one guinea pig to another 4. With the number of coronavirus cases surging by the day, we all have a lot of questions like this about the deadly infection. Unlike a cold, flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. They can continue to spread the virus for a further 5 to 7 days after they become ill. Typically, the most flu activity in new york state occurs from january through march and the flu season runs until may. Now that palese had a model organism, he was able to begin experiments to get to the bottom of the flu season.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes and prevention of this potentially fatal viral infection that attacks the respiratory system. At least 14,000 people have died and 250,000 have already been hospitalized during the 20192020 flu season, according to estimates from the u. Does that mean it will be particularly bad, perhaps like the flumageddon of 2018. These contagious viruses are the cause of respiratory illnesses, just like covid19. Tamiflu and the flu shot can help prevent it or at least lessen the. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically. You can get the flu at any time, but flu season in the u. Influenza the flu and covid19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, are both infectious respiratory illnesses.
Gregory poland, a mayo clinic infectious diseases and vaccine specialist, says that the threat of the coronavirus is real, but the seasonal flu still remains a bigger issue for most people. This web page provides preliminary cumulative estimates of flu cases, medical visits and hospitalizations for the 20192020 season. Flu season thats sickened 26 million may be at its peak. The best time to get a flu vaccine is in the fall, before flu season starts, so your body has time to build up immunity. Find out if youre eligible for the free nhs flu vaccine.
Flu season typically falls sometime between the start of fall and the end of spring. The ohio department of health tracks seasonal influenza activity on a weekly basis throughout the year. At first glance, symptoms for the new coronavirus, otherwise known as 2019ncov or sarscov2, are similar to those we associate with the common cold or the flu common coronavirus symptoms can. This page provides resources about flu symptoms, complications, and diagnosis. Both seasonal flu viruses which include influenza a and influenza b viruses and covid19 are contagious viruses that cause respiratory illness according to the cdc, the flu. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere. It will not stop all flu viruses and the level of protection may vary, so its not a 100% guarantee that youll be flu free.
Although the yearly impact of influenza varies, it affects the health of new yorkers each season. The best way to minimize risk of seasonal flu is getting yourself vaccinated before the flu season. The california department of public health cdph influenza surveillance program cisp is a collaborative effort between cdph, the centers for disease control and prevention cdc, kaiser permanente, california local health jurisdictions and the participating california sentinel providers and sentinel laboratories. Its symptoms are usually more serious than the sneezes and stuffy nose that you tend to get from a common cold. Seasonal flu symptoms include fever, sore throat, nasal discharge, dry cough, headache, body aches and stomach conditions. Laboratory confirmed flu activity as reported by clinical laboratories continues to decrease sharply and is now low. Each years seasonal flu vaccine contains protection from the three or four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that years flu season. Flu vaccination has been shown to prevent flu illnesses, doctors visits and hospitalizations and can be lifesaving in children 20182019 u.
There are two types of seasonal flu, influenza types a and b. Influenza, or the flu, is a serious respiratory virus that causes the sudden onset of symptoms like fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy. For the past three decades, flu activity has peaked at some point between the months of october and february but always tapers off by april. Flu is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. The flu vaccines most common side effect are flu like symptoms. Most people get over an infection within two weeks, at most. For weekly case count updates, please see the weekly respiratory virus surveillance report, p. Seasonal flu epidemics occur yearly during the colder months. Cdc epidemiologist michelle hughes answers three commonly asked questions about flu season. Seasonal flu or seasonal influenza is a disease of the respiratory system, caused due to infection by influenza virus. While you treat the symptoms in both situations, the flu can also be treated with the antiviral medication oseltamivir a.
So far in the us, there have been around 32 million flu illnesses and 18,000 deaths from flu, according to the centers for disease control and prevention. Its usually a seasonal illness, with yearly outbreaks killing hundreds of thousands of. This year, the vaccine will be available as an injection and as a nasal spray. These are prescription medicines in various forms, such as pills. Do we need patients with flu like symptoms to require medical attention during the end of the flu season.
At the same time in the northern hemisphere, its the tailend of flu season. Flu activity has been elevated since the start of november and is only expected to continue climbing, the. Another key difference is a fever, which might not happen with a cold. Most people who get sick with flu will have mild illness and will recover in less than two weeks without medical care. During the 20182019 flu season, there were 17,210 cases of the flu in wisconsin. Experts note that the novel coronavirus, the flu, and allergies have different symptoms. The 20172018 flu season was one of the deadliest in decades according to the cdc. A flu shot wont prevent coronavirus, but it could help. During the 20172018 flu season, approximately 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 people died due to flu complications. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Flu in wisconsin the flu is an illness caused by the influenza virus. Covid19, caused by the novel coronavirus, and the flu are both respiratory illnesses. Find information on coronavirus disease 2019 covid19.
The main symptoms of the novel coronavirus are fever, tiredness, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Influenza flu wisconsin department of health services. Flu reports california department of public health. Symptoms of a flu infection include sore throat, a cough, aches, headaches and a fever. Adults with seasonal flu dont usually have stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhea. Flu season can last through may, according to the centers for disease control and prevention, and older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with longterm health conditions are at. This years flu vaccine has been 45% effective against the flu so far this season, new cdc figures show it worked better against the b strain of the flu 50% effective than the a strain 37%.
Find out the anxiety disorder symptoms experts say you should pay attention to, and how to know if youre having an anxiety attack. These drugs work best if given within 48 hours of when symptoms start. Information you need to know about the current 20192020 flu season. Cdc recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine by the end of october. Odh monitors circulating flu viruses and other related data sources and provides weekly summaries of influenza activity from october week 40 through may week 20. Entering flu season while caring for a young child can be intimidating. Webmd does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Weekly surveillance report of fluview for the 20192020 season will begin october 11. Flu season is fast approaching, and it could be a nasty one. Although flu symptoms are typically similar no matter the strain of influenza, history has shown that seasons in which h3n2 influenza a is the dominant strain are.
A person with the flu can spread the virus beginning 1 day before they show symptoms. Its more effective to get the vaccine before the start of the flu season december to march. They usually come more suddenly than cold symptoms. Flu report 20192020 flu season forecasts, stats, and tips. Will the 2020 flu season be as deadly as last years. Studies have shown that the flu vaccine will help prevent you getting the flu. The centers for disease control and prevention says about 8% of americans are sickened by the flu.
The flu has symptoms similar to the novel coronavirus, such as fever and body aches, but influenza usually doesnt cause shortness of breath. How are coronavirus symptoms different from those of flu and cold. With an intense flu season in full swing, hundreds of thousands of coughing and feverish patients have already overwhelmed emergency rooms around the. An estimated 80,000 americans died of flu and its complications last winter.
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