(NEXSTAR) – Influenza activity spiked in states across the country during the last week of November, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
data from FluViewA weekly collaboration between the CDC and dozens of health and statistics workers across the country shows increasing levels of virus activity in many states, many in the southern half of the United States.
Texas, Nevada, California, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee are all at low to moderate levels at the time of estimated activity, while Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. are at high levels. It became.
“When it comes to COVID-19 and the flu, there are definitely treatment options if you catch it early enough, which is why I always say we don't necessarily need to focus on the symptoms,” said Hartford Healthcare's Chief Epidemiologist. Dr. Ulysses Wu says: He told Nexstar's WTNH..
Wu added that many people often confuse the early symptoms of coronavirus or influenza with allergies, and that people should seek medicine within the first five days to receive treatment to minimize illness. He emphasized that it is extremely important.
The CDC notes that reporting is voluntary and the report aggregates medical visits for respiratory illnesses, including fever, cough, and sore throat, not those confirmed by laboratory tests.
Should I still get vaccinated?
Health experts recommend getting vaccinated even if you can't get it in the fall. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop immunity after getting vaccinated, so now might be a good time to get vaccinated before your next holiday gathering.
As people travel more and spend more time indoors with friends and family, COVID-19 and influenza cases tend to increase in November or December, and COVID-19 typically begins in January. influenza peaks in January or February.
Don't have enough time? you can have both Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations Your health care professional will advise you during the same visit. Don't call these boosters. These aren't just an extra dose of protection from last year. Coronaviruses and influenza are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade the body's immune defenses, so both vaccines are reformulated every year to target newer strains.
while it's notperfectionvaccination provides strong protection against severe cases of influenza, COVID-19, or death from it.
“It may not prevent all infections, but it will reduce the severity of infections,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I’d rather have my grandmother or great-grandmother sniff me than go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”
Last year, only 45% of adults received a flu shot, and even fewer at 23% received a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The best line of defense to protect yourself, your loved ones, and those around you is a simple shot,” Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, said in a recent statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
