Every winter, the flu virus makes its rounds across the United States, typically staying from October to May. Anyone can catch the flu, but those who got their shots, despite the vaccine not being 100 percent effective against viruses, are less likely to succumb to infections and get sick. Now that the holiday season is here, flu cases are expected to rise, much like what is currently happening in Rhode Island.
What's the holiday season got to do with the flu? The holiday season means a lot of gatherings and, where there is a lot of people, the likelihood of catching the flu is high. Young children and those aged 60 years old and above are the likeliest candidates, so those at higher risk of getting sick are advised to stay away from crowds whenever possible.
In Rhode Island, influenza cases are starting to pick up, but health officials from the state are saying it's actually still too early to tell whether or not this season is going to be particularly bad. Through mid-December, flu cases have steadily increased in number, but figures have not gone beyond what's on early-season records in recent winters.
In the week ending Dec. 20, a little over 0.50 percent of those who visited out-patient care facilities (assigned to provide data for national flu monitoring) in the state complained of flu-like symptoms. This is higher than figures for the 2013-2014 and 2011-2012 periods but lower than what was registered in the 2012-2013 season.
If trends persist, there should also be a spike in symptoms reported when January starts. Typically, more than four percent of visits to the doctor will involve flu-like symptoms when the new year begins.
Last winter, state health officials expected the flu season to end early, ceasing as the weather started to warm. Instead, it extended well into April, aggravated by a late-season spike, no thanks to the H3N2 virus, which is also the dominant strain this season.
So far, one person has already been reported to have died from the flu in Rhode Island.
The state has a high vaccination rate against the flu, a fact that state health officials are proud of. However, they are staying vigilant to ensure they can act accordingly regardless of how the flu season turns out, not forgetting to be on the lookout as well for other diseases that have the tendency to crop up during winter, such as whooping cough.
