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Former President Bill Clinton, seen here at the 2024 New York Times Dealbook Summit on December 4, … [+]
Former US President Bill Clinton’s experience this week was a reminder of two things about the flu. First of all, it’s clearly flu season in the US now. Second, the flu can cause serious problems, possibly life-threatening problems. Therefore, thirdly, it is important to take flu prevention seriously. Okay, three things.
Bill Clinton was treated in a hospital for the flu
Mistaking the flu for a cold can be like mistaking a lion for a domestic cat. Clinton, 78, was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on Monday after developing a fever. He was discharged the next day after being treated and 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, which is over 65, puts him at greater risk for the worst effects of the flu. The same goes for younger children, people with chronic medical conditions, and anyone who may have a weaker immune system. But just because you’re young and have the immune system equivalent of that Jack Reacher character doesn’t mean the flu, including death, can’t happen to you. As long as you have lungs and are breathing air, you are at least some degree of risk. And even if you don’t end up getting so sick that you need to be hospitalized, you probably won’t say that you just flew by with the flu. a flu infection.
Flu rates have risen
Clinton was certainly not the only one who recently came down with the flu and ended up in the hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the current flu season has already resulted in at least 1.9 million people becoming ill and 23,000 hospitalized. The death toll for the season so far stands at 970. These numbers certainly do not come close to the numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they’re nothing to sneeze at either.
Furthermore, these numbers should also increase significantly in the coming weeks. The CDC Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report showed that 9% of reported flu test results were positive in the week ending December 14, 2024, which was week 50 of 2024. That’s an increase from 5% the week before. This means the current rise in cases is likely to peak sometime in January before subsiding. That doesn’t necessarily mean the worst will be over afterward. Flu seasons have historically had more than one peak period
Two influenza A subtypes have caused this flu wave
The main causes of this flu wave appear to be two influenza A subtypes. During week 50 of this year, testing by public health laboratories in various parts of the US found 842 cases caused by influenza A viruses and 29 by influenza B viruses. They sub-typed 593 of the influenza A viruses and found that 274 or 46.2% of them were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 317 or 53.5% A(H3N2) and 2 or 0.3% A(H5).
Just because you are experiencing flu-like symptoms does not necessarily mean you have the flu. Only testing can tell if you have the flu, while a potpourri of other respiratory viruses can cause symptoms similar to the flu, including respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus and human metapneumovirus.
Only tests can determine with certainty whether it is COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to the flu, although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a bit like the reality show contestant of respiratory viruses. The symptoms that SARS-CoV-2 can cause are less predictable and include a wider range of possibilities. While flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly about 48 hours after exposure and immediately get worse before peaking and then improving, COVID-19 symptoms can jump around in all kinds of patterns. Furthermore, there is no such thing as a long-term flu that is comparable to a long-term flu.
How to protect yourself from the flu
The best way to avoid bad effects from the flu is, drumroll please, not to get the flu in the first place. It really helps to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s still not too late to get the flu vaccine, as it takes about two weeks for the vaccine’s protection to fully kick in and flu season typically lasts until at least spring and in some cases even into May.
Washing those grubby paws you call your hands helps a lot too. I’ve written before Forbes about how bad many people are at washing their hands. Remember to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. The following image shows how to do this correctly:
(Illustration: Getty)
Lather your hands for at least 20 seconds, which is about as long as it takes to sing from the beginning of the song “I Touch Myself” through the first chorus.
And that five-foot warning you heard so often at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 still applies to the flu. Respiratory droplets containing influenza viruses are typically larger than those containing SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, gravity ensures that the stuff coughed or sneezed by someone infected with influenza viruses does not travel further than a Ryan Gosling distance or whoever your favorite six feet is.
If you do get the flu, taking an antiviral drug such as Tamiflu or Relenza can help reduce the severity and duration of your symptoms, but only if you take it soon enough. Such antiviral drugs prevent the virus from replicating in your respiratory tract. But the greatest amount of replication occurs within the first 48 hours after initial exposure to the virus.
Finally, don’t listen to those people who claim that the flu is no problem, that it is no worse than the common cold. People may listen to claims that go against scientific evidence, but not viruses.