Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 days ago
Flu activity rises early on the US West Coast
Flu cases are increasing earlier than usual in the US, especially on the West Coast.
The share of flu tests that were positive rose from 2.5% to 3.6% between September 19 and October 3.
Experts say a new version of the virus may be spreading more easily, but it is not yet clear why the rise began early.
An early start does not mean the season will be more severe, but health officials recommend vaccination.
Flu activity is rising earlier than usual on the US West Coast, according to CDC data reported in the article.
The rise began in the week ending August 8 and has continued at a small but sustained pace.
From September 19 to October 3, the flu test positivity rate rose from 2.5% to 3.6%.
Flu-associated emergency department visits also doubled over that period, from 0.3% to 0.6% of all visits.
Experts said an early rise does not necessarily mean a more severe season, but urged people to get vaccinated promptly.
- Who
- US health officials and experts reported the rise; people in the West Coast region are affected.
- What
- Flu activity is rising earlier than usual, with increases in test positivity and flu-associated emergency department visits.
- When
- Activity began rising in the week ending August 8; the latest figures cited cover September 19 to October 3.
- Where
- The US West Coast, including the Pacific Northwest and California.
- Why
- The cause is unclear. Experts have linked the rise to a circulating H3N2 subclade K variant.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This year, it seems like we're having a flu surge very, very early.
The leading explanation is [we have] a new variant whose mutation lets it get past the antibodies people built from past infections and vaccines.
[Flu cases] are about two months early [in this area].
The way flu is circulating now, you wanted that vaccine in you two weeks ago, if not a little before that,
Flu activity began to rise, according to the data.
The flu test positivity rate rose from 2.5% to 3.6%, while flu-associated emergency department visits increased from 0.3% to 0.6% of all visits.
- Flu activity began rising
- Week ending August 8
- Test positivity, September 19
- 2.5%
- Test positivity, October 3
- 3.6%
- Flu-associated emergency department visits
- Rose from 0.3% to 0.6% of all visits
- Variant cited by experts
- H3N2 subclade K
Sources
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