WORCESTER, Mass. - Dipping temperatures, family gatherings, the holidays. All signs flu season is just about here. With a new variant expected to hit the united states, local doctors are preparing for what could be a very busy winter.
UMass Memorial Health's Dr. Sandeep Jubbal says the strain, slightly different than the normal H3N2 flu, is being seen in Japan and the U.K.
"It's called subclade k, ant it's already causing an early flu season and it's widespread out there," Jubbal said. "So we expect this season to be predominantly triggered by or guided by h3n2 infections."
What You Need To Know
- Health experts are preparing for a busy flu season with new variant, subclade k, expected to hit the U.S.
- UMass Memorial Health Dr. Sandeep Jubbal says it's causing flu season to hit a bit earlier.
- Tracking data starting October 1st, the hospital system reported 44 cases as of last week.
- Experts recommend getting vaccinated and staying away from groups if you don't feel well.
Jubbal says Thanksgiving usually serves as a starting point for flu-related hospital visits, but cases have already begun filing in.
Tracking data starting October 1st, the hospital system reported 44 cases as of last week. While slightly down from last year's figures during the same period, Jubbal is expecting those numbers to jump significantly.
"It is a time with everybody travelling to get to their homes and also having these gatherings and dinners together," said Jubbal. "It is the time where in close spaces, it has the highest risk of respiratory spread of these infections."
Jubbal says the two extremes are typically the most susceptible to severe illness: babies and small infants and the elderly. Immunocompromised folks should also look at taking extra precautions like masks and social distancing.
Family Medicine specialist Dr. Laquita Morris says there are many steps to prevent the spread of the flu with frequent handwashing being one of them.
"Making sure if you are coughing or sneezing, that you cover your mouth or your nose," Morris said. "If you don't feel well this holiday season, staying home or wearing a mask when you're around others to prevent the spread of illness."
But both doctors emphasizing the importance of vaccinations not just for the flu, but for other respiratory illnesses like covid.
"The biggest thing is trying to get rid of misconceptions about vaccinations," Morris said. "And so just trying to break down some of that and offering education to the patients."
"Vaccines may not perfectly prevent you from infection, but it will definitely prevent the serious outcomes," Jubbal said.