Doctors reveal troubling signs in early flu trends, warn of ‘unusually bad’ season

This year s flu season is already raising alarms among populace medical leaders and infectious syndrome experts According to the BBC the U K s National Strength Facility NHS has issued an SOS warning amid growing concern that this winter could bring one of the preponderance severe influenza waves in latest memory This flu season is going to be unusually bad Dr Jacob Glanville CEO of Centivax a San Francisco biotechnology company stated Fox News Digital Britain is getting hit earlier and harder with cases triple compared to last year COMMON VIRUSES LINKED TO DRAMATIC SPIKE IN HEART ATTACK AND STROKE RISKAustralia reportedly experienced its worst-ever flu season in a pattern that has often foreshadowed what s to come in the Northern Hemisphere In the United States early indicators point in that same direction Dr Ravi Jhaveri professor of pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and division head of pediatric infectious diseases at Ann Robert H Lurie Children s Hospital of Chicago reported there are signs of early flu activity in segments of the country adding that vaccination rates have continued to fall since the pandemic THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING YOUR FLU SHOT ACCORDING TO DOCTORSThat combination could mean a intricate season ahead the expert communicated Fox News Digital particularly because there appears to be more of the H N strain right now which can be associated with lower effectiveness of the flu vaccine Meanwhile the vaccines contain strains that are multiple years out of date Glanville cautioned They contain a mix of a strain a strain and a strain This means the flu shots are mismatched to the virus BEST TIME TO GET THE FLU VACCINE THIS FALL AS INFLUENZA SEASON APPROACHESThe current strain also has a history of producing more severe illnesses and higher hospitalization rates according to the medical expert Meanwhile the virus continues to mutate making it harder for immune systems to recognize The flu virus is constantly mutating in small amounts to evade our immune system Jhaveri noted which is the main reason new vaccines are developed each year The virus seems to be spreading earlier than usual this year and researchers aren t entirely sure why Jhaveri noted that while the timing of the flu season can vary from season to season there may now be a shift in how different respiratory viruses interact CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTHCARE NEWSLETTER In the past we used to see flu start to emerge when RSV was past its peak circulation he mentioned Now that we have more prevention options for RSV the overall respiratory virus pattern may have shifted It s still recommended that people get vaccinated Glanville emphasized but protection will be partial at best and worse than normal Flu immunity may also be weaker this year As Jhaveri pointed out immunity increases after vaccination and natural infection but wanes over time especially in older adults Still based on Australia s material we think the vaccine should offer the usual levels of protection he explained TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZHigh-risk individuals including those with chronic conditions weakened immune systems or obesity as well as pregnant women and young children should take extra caution About half the children who die from flu and flu-related complications have no prior hazard factor Jhaveri noted emphasizing that vaccination remains the first step in preventing flu CLICK HERE FOR MORE FITNESS STORIESFor those hesitant to visit a clinic a nasal-spray vaccine was in the past few days approved for either self-administration or for parents and helpers allowing families to vaccinate at home Jhaveri noted Glanville's company Centivax is progressing a universal flu vaccine entering human trials in early he added