A CDC report finds that the flu season is starting off slow this year, but health officials are still urging people to get their flu shot as we move into the winter months. Doctor visits related to flu-like illness between October 4th and November 28th was only 1.9 percent, a percentage more commonly found in the summer months. This is good news considering last year’s flu season was more severe and protracted than normal.
“There are multiple ways that we measure flu activity,” epidemiologist Lynette Brammer of the CDC Influenza Division told Fox News. “Any of that data that you look at, there’s just not a lot going on fluwise.”
Brammer warns, however, that the lull in the influenza virus doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a flu-free winter. Flu seasons are hard to predict, and some show up as late as February. “You will start to see it begin to increase,” Brammer said. “But it’s really hard to predict when it’s just going to really kick in and take off.”
A typical flu season ranges anywhere between October and May, according to the CDC, although length, timing, and severity can vary greatly. Because of this, the CDC urges that a flu shot is the first and best way to avoid getting the flu. The CDC also recommends getting a flu shot as soon as possible, as it typically takes two weeks for the antibodies to develop in the body.
This year’s vaccine is expected to better than it did last year. Those that have not been vaccinated yet are still able to get a flu shot at most doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
The slow start to the flu season may be related to the abundant lack of cold air across the U.S., which has been experiencing a mild start to December thanks in part to El Niño.
Medical experts also advise common sense practices to avoid getting the flu, reports The Chicago Tribune. These include avoiding those infected with the flu, frequent hand washing, and getting plenty of sleep. Those infected with the flu are encouraged to stay home when possible and covering their mouths when coughing.
