The dreaded flu season is upon us, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is already issuing a cautionary tale.
Most flu cases this year in Colorado have been caused by the influenza A (H3N2) virus, which can cause a more severe flu season with more hospitalizations.
“We tend to have more severe seasons when H3N2 viruses predominate,” said Dr. Lisa Miller, state epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
But the flu vaccinations being given aren’t covering all the H3N2 cases seen in Colorado.
“Unfortunately, about half of the H3N2 virus circulating now are different from the H3N2 virus included in this season’s flu vaccine,” said Miller. “Because they are different, we are concerned protection from the flu vaccine may be reduced. However, vaccination still is the best way to protect against the flu.”
Marc Meyer, infection preventionist at Southwest Memorial Hospital, said the flu season hasn’t hit hard in Southwest Colorado, but people should get vaccinated.
“It’s not too late,” Meyer said. “Typically January and February are the flu months.”
As of last week, Meyer said, there hadn’t been hospitalizations from the virus.
Meyer said the flu vaccine still provides a large amount of protection against other strains.
But, he warned, if you get the vaccine and still get flu-like symptoms, you should still call your doctor.
He added that antivirals can shorten recovery time significantly.
During past seasons, there have been more hospitalizations and deaths when the H3N2 flu virus has predominated, particularly among older people, very young children and people with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDPHE.
Meyer said they give the flu vaccine through April.
Statewide numbers indicate:
For the week ending Dec. 6, influenza activity continued to increase. State surveillance shows that virtually all influenza viruses currently circulating in Colorado are the H3N2 virus.
There were 153 additional hospitalizations reported during the most recent week (compared with 57 the previous week). Of these reported cases, 51 were from the previous week and 102 were from the most recent week. The state’s cumulative total is 248 hospitalizations from 23 counties.
There were 21 additional outbreaks reported during the most recent week, six with an onset date during the previous week and 15 with an onset date during the most recent week. The total number of outbreaks reported in long-term care facilities is now at 24.
Colorado’s weekly flu report is available at: www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/influenza-data.