Flu Season Arrives Early
Health officials urge people to get vaccinated as flu activity rises in Western states, ahead of the typical early-November start
Global Newsflix 2 min read
The flu season has started earlier than expected in the United States, with health officials reporting a rise in flu activity in Western states, including California, Washington, and Hawaii.
According to Dr. Dawn Terashita, associate director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Acute Communicable Disease Control Program, flu activity began rising in September, ahead of its typical early-November start.
Dr. Helen Chu of the University of Washington School of Medicine said the flu season usually starts in the South and Southeast, then migrates to the West Coast, but this year it started in the Western states.
Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as vaccination is the best form of protection against the flu.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious-disease expert, said people should aim to get the shot ideally before mid-November.
The early start to the flu season has also led to an increase in flu-related hospital admissions, with 34 flu-related deaths reported in California so far this year.
Dr. Leslie Wong, chief clinical officer at Rochester Regional Health, said vaccination remains the best protection against the respiratory virus, and people who have mild flu or respiratory symptoms can recover at home by resting, staying hydrated, and avoiding exposing others to the virus.
Key facts
- Flu season started earlier than expected in the United States
- Flu activity is rising in Western states, including California, Washington, and Hawaii
- Vaccination is the best form of protection against the flu
- 34 flu-related deaths have been reported in California so far this year
Three perspectives
Neutral
The early start to the flu season has health officials concerned, and they are urging people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The flu season is unpredictable, and it is unclear why it started earlier than expected this year. People are advised to take precautions to avoid getting the flu, such as getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene.
Positive
The flu vaccine is available, and health officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu, and it can also reduce the severity of symptoms if someone does get the flu.
Negative
The early start to the flu season has led to an increase in flu-related hospital admissions, and 34 flu-related deaths have been reported in California so far this year. The flu can be a serious illness, especially for older adults, young children, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
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