Alaska’s flu season continues to worsen, epidemiology reports show

Alaska’s flu season is worsening with no indicators of leveling off, the newest surveillance report from the Alaska Division of Well being confirmed on Wednesday.

This week, the Anchorage Each day Information reported that unusually excessive charges of flu and respiratory syncytial virus are filling pediatric items at hospitals throughout the state, and the weekly flu report signifies no change within the scenario.

“Primarily based on this week’s flu snapshot, you possibly can see that the speed remains to be going up precipitously, and there’s no signal of it leveling off,” mentioned Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Alaska’s state epidemiologist.

This season is unusually early and hard-hitting by historic requirements; Alaska’s flu season usually runs from October by means of Could, peaking in February, however the variety of laboratory-confirmed flu circumstances started rising in late October and has already handed the February 2019 peak of the final pre-pandemic flu season.

This week’s nationwide flu-tracking report has but to be revealed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, however as late as final week, the CDC rated Alaska’s influenza stage as “low” in comparison with different states, one other signal that situations right here might worsen earlier than they enhance.

“We all know that the influenza an infection charges had been the very best early on within the Southeastern a part of the US,” McLaughlin mentioned, “after which they regularly made their manner westward and northward. We’re the furthest west and the furthest northern state in the US, and so it might be that the worst of the flu season remains to be forward of us.”

If there may be optimistic information, McLaughlin mentioned, it’s that this yr’s flu vaccine seems to be a great match for probably the most generally circulating strains of flu.

“Which means when you’ve been vaccinated, your possibilities of getting influenza an infection — when you’re uncovered — go down. After which when you do wind up getting a breakthrough an infection, you’re usually going to get a milder an infection that’s going to final a shorter time period, and will probably be related to decrease threat of hospitalization and dying,” McLaughlin mentioned.

Alaska’s flu vaccination dashboard, revealed by the Division of Well being, reveals solely 20% of Alaska residents at the very least 18 years outdated have been vaccinated for the flu this yr.

“We’re presently seeing very low charges of vaccination in opposition to influenza, in addition to the COVID booster. And we’re nonetheless seeing numerous hospitalizations, and sadly, many preventable deaths because of COVID throughout the nation,” McLaughlin mentioned.

He mentioned that antiviral medicines can be found with a prescription if somebody is contaminated, however prevention remains to be vital, significantly throughout the holidays.

He advises skipping vacation events when you’re feeling ailing and utilizing the strategies that labored throughout the COVID pandemic — carrying masks, social distancing, avoiding people who find themselves sick.

“Fortuitously, our COVID charges are a lot decrease now than they had been final vacation season. In order that’s a very good factor. However we do nonetheless have plenty of different respiratory pathogens circulating, and we have now very excessive hospitalization charges, particularly amongst kids. So it’s going to proceed to be vital throughout this vacation season for individuals to stay vigilant and protecting and attempt to do what they will to guard themselves and their family members from getting a respiratory an infection,” he mentioned.

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