Understanding the Current Illnesses Going Around
If you’re feeling under the weather at home, it’s likely not the flu, according to Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease specialist at UChicago Medicine. Rather, it could be another virus that’s making the rounds.
So, which virus might it be?
Dr. Landon suggests that it’s probably rhino enterovirus, saying, “There’s a particularly nasty outbreak of rhino entero happening right now.” As the Executive Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at UChicago, she emphasizes that while this year’s flu season did kick off earlier than normal, it’s not as widespread as one might assume.
Federal health experts have noted that flu cases have risen above what’s expected for October, yet data shows that overall case numbers remain low. The similarity between Rhinovirus and Enterovirus often leads them to be tested together since they belong to the same family and are common culprits of colds. Their early symptoms can resemble those of the flu, which can confuse patients into thinking they have influenza.
Dr. Landon explains that, “At the onset, it can really be hard to distinguish. Some might experience a more severe illness with rhino enterovirus, presenting with fever and cough. However, most will just have mild symptoms like a runny nose and fatigue. In contrast, influenza usually results in harsher coughing and higher fevers.”
Flu season traditionally peaks in January in Chicago. While Dr. Landon notes that no two seasons are identical, it’s premature to designate the flu as the main health threat right now.
“We might see it arrive earlier this year, but we’re certainly not at that point regarding flu concerns,” she noted.
According to Northwestern Medicine, flu and COVID-19 cases are currently a bit higher than what’s usual for this time of year. Rush University Medical Center added that no specific illness is surging, but they have confirmed that flu season has commenced early.
Dr. Landon points out that the cases of COVID-19 seem to be receding, following a slight surge late in summer.
When it comes to vaccinations, Dr. Landon stresses that the flu shot takes about two weeks to become fully effective, and advises against delaying it.
“We don’t even begin assessing if the flu strains align with the vaccine until late October or early November,” she explained.
She added that the current flu cases appear mainly to be H1N1 strains of influenza A, which are generally milder in comparison to H3N2 strains.
Ultimately, she believes that, regardless of the match between the vaccine and the circulating strains, getting vaccinated is crucial.
“It’s even more critical in mismatched years since that’s when a larger number of people need to be protected to mitigate serious illness. You’ll have more exposure in seasons where the match is less effective, so it’s essential to safeguard against severe outcomes,” she remarked.
