Bill Clinton hospitalized with flu, flu A on the rise across the US

Former US President Bill Clinton’s experience this week was a reminder of two things about the flu. First of all, now is clearly flu season in the US. Second, the flu can cause some serious, life-threatening problems. Therefore, thirdly, it is important to take flu prevention seriously. OK, three things.

Bill Clinton was treated at a hospital for the flu

Mistaking the flu for a common cold can be like mistaking a lion for a house cat. Clinton, 78, was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on Monday after developing a fever. He was discharged the day after receiving treatment and was observed. His deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña issued a statement saying the following about the 42nd president: “He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.”

Clinton’s age, being over 65, does indeed put him at greater risk for the worst outcomes of the flu. The same goes for younger children, people with a chronic medical condition, and anyone else who may have a weakened immune system. But just because you’re young and have the immune system equivalent of that Jack Reacher character doesn’t mean the worst of the flu, including death, can’t happen to you. As long as you have lungs and breathe air, you face at least some degree of risk. Plus, even if you don’t get sick enough to need hospitalization, you’re not likely to say you just flew in with the flu. a flu infection.

The number of flu has increased

Clinton certainly wasn’t the only one who caught the flu and ended up in the hospital recently. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the current flu season has already resulted in at least 1.9 million people getting sick and 23,000 hospitalized. The death toll for the season to date is 970. Those numbers are certainly nowhere near the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic numbers. But they’re nothing to sneeze at either.

Moreover, these numbers should increase significantly in the coming weeks as well. CDC Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report showed that 9% of reported flu test results came back as positive in the week ending December 14, 2024, which was week 50 of 2024. This is an increase from 5% in the previous week. This means the current surge in cases will likely peak sometime in January before tapering off. That won’t necessarily mean the worst is over. Flu seasons in the past have had more than one peak when in

Two subtypes of influenza A have driven this increase in influenza

The main factors behind this increase in influenza appear to be two subtypes of influenza A. In week 50 of this year, tests by public health laboratories in various parts of the US found 842 cases caused by influenza A viruses and 29 viruses influenza B. They subtyped 593 of the influenza A viruses, finding that 274 or 46.2% of them were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 317 or 53.5% were A(H3N2) and 2 or 0.3% were A(H5).

Now, just because you have flu-like symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have the flu. Only the tests will be able to tell you if you have the flu, compared to a potpourri of other respiratory viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, including respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus.

Only tests will be able to determine for sure if it is COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to the flu, although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is kind of like the reality show contestant of respiratory viruses. The symptoms that SARS-CoV-2 can cause are less predictable and cover a wider range of possibilities. While flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly about 48 hours after exposure and get worse immediately before peaking and then getting better, COVID-19 symptoms can jump in all kinds of patterns. Also, there is no such thing as long flu that is comparable to long COVID.

How to protect yourself against the flu

The best way to prevent the ill effects of the flu is to drum roll, please don’t get the flu in the first place. It helps a lot to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s still not too late to get the flu shot, as it takes about two weeks for the vaccine’s protection to fully kick in, and the flu season usually lasts at least until spring, and in some cases until May.

Washing those dirty paws you call hands helps a lot. I previously wrote for Forbes about how stupid you are at washing your hands. Remember to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. The following illustration shows how to do this correctly:

Clap your hands for at least 20 seconds, which is about as long as it takes to sing from the beginning of “I Touch Myself” to the first chorus.

And that 2 meter warning you’ve heard so often at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 it also applies to the flu. Respiratory droplets containing influenza viruses tend to be larger than those containing SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, gravity prevents a cough or sneeze from someone infected with flu viruses from traveling more than a distance from Ryan Gosling or whoever your favorite 6-footer is.

If you get the flu, taking an antiviral such as Tamiflu or Relenza can help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, but only if you take it soon enough. Such antivirals prevent the virus from replicating in the respiratory tract. But the greatest amount of replication occurs in the first 48 hours after initial exposure to the virus.

Finally, don’t listen to those people who claim that the flu is no big deal, that it’s no worse than the common cold. Humans can listen to claims that contradict scientific evidence, but viruses cannot.