LOS ANGELES – As holiday travel surges, health officials are closely monitoring a new flu variant circulating in Southern California, raising concerns about a potentially severe flu season.
Audrey Garrett,a mother of two,recently experienced firsthand how quickly the flu can spread. “We actually are just coming back from being sick.He caught a fever. My daughter had that nasty cough, you know that honking cough at night,” Garrett said.
A Worrying New Strain Emerges
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Last year’s flu season was particularly harsh for Los Angeles, and experts fear this year could be even worse, especially with the emergence of a new H3N2 flu variant. Dr. Dawn Tereshita, who monitors acute communicable disease at L.A. County’s Department of Public Health, explained that this new strain, dubbed subclade K, is proving difficult for the immune system to recognize.
“This subclade K is new,” Dr. Tereshita said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen yet, but since it is circulating pretty widely, we are watching it very carefully.”
While the new variant isn’t a perfect match for this season’s flu vaccine,getting vaccinated remains the best defense against severe illness,hospitalization,and even death.
Can the flu vaccine protect against the new variant? Experts believe a flu shot will still help reduce the risk of severe illness, even if it’s not a perfect match for the circulating strain.
Treatment and Prevention
“Any reason to not go to the hospital is, in my mind, very worth it,” Dr. Tereshita emphasized. “There are also antivirals,which you can take if you get sick.”
Antiviral medications like Tamiflu and the newer Xofluza can lessen the severity and duration of the flu,but they are most effective when taken soon after symptoms begin. individuals experiencing fever, sore throat, cough, and body aches shoudl consult their doctor promptly.
Dr. tereshita stressed the importance of basic preventative measures: “The main messages are wash your hands, stay home when your sick, and if you have to go out, wear a mask.”
Current Flu Activity in California
Despite the concerns surrounding the new variant, Dr. Tereshita noted that flu activity in California currently remains low. However, she urged residents to get vaccinated now, as flu season typically peaks in January and February.
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