Flu season is quickly picking up across the region, as health officials report a jump in influenza cases and hospitalizations while many respiratory viruses are “running pretty rampant” this holiday season.
Flu severity for Massachusetts is now high, according to the latest update from the state Department of Public Health. This “high” influenza severity designation is four weeks before the Bay State climbed from “moderate” to “high” last flu season. Flu activity is high throughout the country.
Meanwhile, COVID cases and hospitalizations are ticking up around the state as the Boston-area virus wastewater data spikes.
A week ago, Tufts Medical Center did not have any flu patients in the hospital.
“This morning, we had seven patients who had tested positive for the flu,” Shira Doron, infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, told the Herald on Wednesday.
“I think that’s certainly consistent with the idea that flu is on the rise,” she added. “Our emergency room is very actively dealing with people who have respiratory symptoms. All viruses appear to be running pretty rampant.”
Those viruses also include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus and enterovirus.
Boston health officials have seen an early and rapid rise in the number of reported flu cases in the past weeks.
“The Boston Public Health Commission strongly recommends that all residents 6 months and older get their annual flu vaccination, in addition to their COVID-19 vaccination and booster, to ensure the broadest level of protection against respiratory viral infection,” the Boston Public Health Commission said in a statement.
“The flu can be a very serious illness, especially for older adults and young children,” BPHC added. “As we gather for the holidays, being up to date with your COVID-19 and flu vaccines and knowing how to access treatments for both illnesses if you get sick is incredibly important to avoid severe illness and hospitalization and keep you and your family healthy.”
In the latest flu report from the state Department of Public Health, there were 2,781 new laboratory-confirmed influenza cases during the last week of data, compared to 1,322 new cases in the prior week.
Also, 1.22% of Massachusetts hospitalizations were associated with influenza, a jump from 0.60% of state hospitalizations in the previous week.
“Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones,” DPH said in a statement. “It is not too late to get the flu vaccine.
“Stay home and away from others when you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes and disinfect high touch surfaces such as faucets, doorknobs, etc.,” DPH added.
More than 36% of Massachusetts residents have gotten a flu shot this season.
“The vaccine is a good match for the circulating flu strain,” Doron said. “It’s never too late to get the flu shot while the flu is circulating — and it certainly is and it’s going up — so get a flu shot now if you haven’t gotten it yet.”
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