Community Health: Flu Season Survival Guide

Описание: Why This Year's Influenza Outbreak Demands Your Attention


Virginia finds itself in the dark red zone on the CDC's influenza activity map, signaling a "very high" level of flu cases sweeping across the Commonwealth. This alarming development prompts Janet Michael, host of The Valley Today (https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/) , to reach out to Dr. Jeff Feit (https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/staf...) for an urgent conversation about protecting communities during this particularly aggressive flu season.


Dr. Feit, who serves as Valley Health (https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/) 's Chief Population and Community Health Officer and Chief Medical Information Officer, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. As a family physician who spent twelve years practicing in Page County before moving into healthcare leadership, he understands both the clinical realities of influenza and the broader public health implications facing Virginia's communities.


An Early and Aggressive Start


The numbers tell a concerning story. Currently, Virginia ranks in the second-highest category out of twelve gradients measuring influenza-like illness (ILI). In contrast, this time last year, the state sat three categories lower. Moreover, while last season's flu activity peaked in mid-February, this year's surge arrived much earlier, catching many residents off guard.


"We're overshooting," Dr. Feit explains, noting that the CDC tracks ILI rather than confirmed diagnoses because not everyone gets tested. This measurement captures people presenting with observable flu symptoms—body aches, fevers, headaches, nausea, and congestion—providing a more accurate picture of community spread than test results alone.


Furthermore, the tracking method resembles the wastewater monitoring used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of counting individual cases, health officials measure the percentage of people walking through medical facilities who display flu-like symptoms, offering insight into how prevalent the virus has become in communities across Virginia.


Understanding the Viral Landscape


Influenza doesn't exist in isolation this winter. Instead, three major respiratory viruses circulate simultaneously: seasonal flu, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). While COVID-19 shows less seasonal predictability in its first five years, influenza remains decidedly seasonal, arriving in late fall and lasting through early spring.


RSV, once simply categorized as "just another cold" in adults, now receives more attention because healthcare providers can test for it easily. In young children, however, RSV causes serious illness and can lead to scarring that triggers asthma symptoms for years. Consequently, the medical community now tracks RSV alongside flu and COVID as part of the winter respiratory illness trio.


Dr. Feit emphasizes the importance of basic prevention strategies that became politicized during the pandemic but remain scientifically sound. "Before COVID, we used to say obvious things like, 'Hey, it's respiratory season. Wash your hands a lot,'" he notes. He recommends being conscious of shared surfaces—particularly those signature pens at pharmacies—and washing hands before touching your face, since that's how respiratory viruses typically enter the body.


The Flu Shot: Separating Fact from Fiction


Each year, scientists formulate a new trivalent flu vaccine targeting the three strains they predict will dominate six months ahead. Typically, two components target Influenza A (the more severe form) and one targets Influenza B. This year, concerns have emerged about whether the vaccine adequately matches the circulating H3N2 variant, though early studies from other countries suggest typical protection levels remain intact.


Nevertheless, Dr. Feit stresses that vaccine effectiveness exists on a spectrum rather than as an all-or-nothing proposition. "Very few things in the world are about all or none," he explains. "We live in a world of probabilities." While the flu shot prevents illness roughly 40-50% of the time, it proves even more effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths—outcomes that matter most.


The CDC recommends flu vaccination for everyone over six months old. Additionally, people over 65 should receive a stronger formulation, though the regular vaccine still provides protection if the enhanced version isn't available. The vaccine remains widely accessible at pharmacies, doctor's offices, urgent care centers, and other convenient locations.


Debunking the "Flu Shot Gives You Flu" Myth


One persistent misconception continues to discourage vaccination: the belief that flu shots cause influenza. Dr. Feit tackles this myth head-on, explaining that most flu vaccines contain inactivated virus, making it impossible to contract influenza from the injection. Recipients may experience arm pain or occasionally feel unwell due to their immune system's response, but t...