Newswise – LOS ANGELES (September 28, 2022) — Amid easing of COVID-19 precautions and a sharp increase in flu cases in the southern hemisphere, experts at Cedars-Sinai are warning the public to prepare for a bad flu season this year.
“Australia and New Zealand had their most severe flu season in five years,” said infectious disease specialist Soniya Gandhi, MD, associate medical director at Cedars-Sinai. “We tend to see similar flu patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, and while there’s no guarantee this will happen, it really highlights the importance of getting a flu shot this year.”
Although people observed the safety measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as wearing face masks and washing their hands frequently, during the last two years, the flu almost disappeared in the US, but this year it could be different as the mask mandates have been lifted and there are more people. back to socialization.
“People are tired of respiratory viruses and trying to get back to a normal life,” said infectious disease specialist Kimberly Shriner, MD, at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai. “I’m concerned that as COVID-19 starts to calm down a bit, there may be an impression that the flu will as well.”
Shriner and Gandhi spoke with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom about what this flu season may bring and why it’s wise to be prepared and get a flu shot.
What worries you about the current flu season in the southern hemisphere?
Australia has a robust flu surveillance system, and its flu season, which runs from April to October, offers clues about what’s in store for the U.S.
The flu was not only bad in Australia this year, but it came fast.
“The flu started circulating two months earlier than normal, and the highest number of cases occurred in children between 5 and 9 years of age,” Gandhi said. “This really emphasizes that even young people should get a flu shot.”
The silver lining? Australia saw a lot of influenza A (H3N2), a strain included in this year’s vaccine, Gandhi said. While it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine in the US, he said it is reassuring to know that this strain of the virus is covered in the current vaccine.
What other factors could affect our next flu season?
“We’ve been very protected these past two years and haven’t had a chance for the flu virus to circulate widely,” Shriner said. “But now, the masks are off.”
As people were more isolated in recent years, immunity to the flu in the population declined. The combination of lowered immunity and relaxed security measures means the public will be doubly vulnerable to a circulating respiratory virus.
“When you throw all of that into the mix, it’s no wonder we’re having the worst flu season we’ve seen in a long time,” Gandhi said.
Why should people take the flu seriously?
The flu is a serious illness, especially for the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, such as cancer or transplant patients.
“Influenza can kill as many as 50,000 people a year, and it’s certainly a concern we have about this upcoming season, given our forecast for upcoming attractions in the southern hemisphere,” Shriner said.
In the US, the flu usually circulates from November to April, coinciding with the winter holidays when people gather indoors and when COVID-19 tends to increase.
“An influx of hospitalizations for COVID-19 and influenza could stress the health care system and affect staffing if many health care workers are sick,” Gandhi said. “It’s one more reason to get the flu shot and also the new Omicron booster.”
Why get vaccinated against the flu?
The last two years have demonstrated the ability of vaccines to prevent disease and save lives. “We’ve seen that dramatically with COVID-19, and I think the same is true with the flu,” Shriner said. “Vaccination often helps the individual, but it also protects those who can’t get a vaccine or who won’t respond very well.”
By limiting the spread of flu and preventing serious illness, the flu vaccine can also help maintain hospital capacity, Gandhi said. He cited a recent study of adults that showed the flu shot reduced their risk of ICU admission by 26 percent and death by 31 percent.
“Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are important on a personal level and critical from a public health standpoint,” Gandhi said.
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai blog: What’s the difference between a cold, the flu, and COVID-19?