Before and After COVID is a big difference in how we behave. Before COVID it was kind of normal to go into the office whilst having a very bad cold, even having the flu. Nowadays it seems like absolutely not done. COVID opened up a lot of eyes how to deal with viruses. Some facts: 

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. 
• It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. 
• Flu season runs from October to May, but it’s possible to get sick with the flu any time of the year. 
• The flu sickens millions in the U.S. every year, and thousands die. 
• Death due to influenza are most common among the elderly, with a mortality rate of around 22 per 100,000 population during the 2019-2020 (before COVID) flu season 
• It is the 9th leading cause of death in the USA. 

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) flu activity is on the rise. The CDC uses a variety of measures to track the flu including: 

• Increased Hospital Admissions: For the week ending November 11, 2,721 patients with laboratory-confirmed flu cases were admitted, this is up from 1,962 the previous week. 
• High Flu Activity: During the week November 11, eight areas reported high flu activity including Georgia, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., Alabama, Florida, New Mexico, Mississippi and Puerto Rico. 
• Moderate Flu Cases: During the same time, eight states reported moderate flu activity, 10 reported low activity 
• Uptick in other respiratory viruses: As of November. 11, 3.5% of patient visits were due to a respiratory illness that “included fever plus a cough or sore throat,” according to the CDC. 

The CDC estimates that during the current 2023-2024 flu season, there have been 780,000 illnesses and 8,000 hospitalizations. 

The flu sickens millions in the U.S. every year, and thousands die from the flu. You can protect yourself by getting the flu vaccine. People need to get a new flu vaccine every year to be protected, and it takes up to two weeks for protection to kick in and for the vaccine to work. This is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. 

No Symptoms? 

By the time you start showing flu symptoms you’ve probably already had it for a week, and you’ve gifted it unknowingly to at least one other person. That’s because you’re infectious for about a week before you know you’re sick. 

Got Flu? 

Fever is the only way to detect the flu. To make sure you don’t have the flu, take your temperature to make sure you do not have a fever. This can be done by using a reliable thermometer that gives you a fast and accurate reading like the Temporal Artery of Exergen. Not sure how to take a correct temperature? Check our education video on how to your take a temperature. 

For information on what to do if flu symptoms arise visit the CDC. 

Don’t want to be that teammate that infects the entire office? 

You can avoid sharing the flu with others by: 

• Going Hands Free: Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Disinfecting: This includes all high-touch areas like countertops, doorknobs and remotes.
• Stop Sharing: Don’t share utensils, cups, food, toothbrushes, clothing, towels or other personal items.
• Isolating Yourself: Stay home until symptoms improve and you’re no longer infectious.
• Being Clean: Wash your hands often with warm water and soap or use hand sanitizers.
• Masking Up: Wear a mask in public and consider wearing a mask at home around family members. 

You can take steps to help protect people from the flu. Stay home if you feel unwell and wear a mask while in public if you have been exposed to someone who has the flu. 

The CDC’s new guidance reflects a broader shift towards a “Pan-respiratory” approach, recognizing that the strategies to combat COVID-19, the flu, and RSV are interconnected. As we navigate this new phase of the pandemic, personal health monitoring, combined with adherence to public health recommendations, will play a vital role in safeguarding individual and community health. By staying informed, taking proactive measures, and using tools like the Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer, we can navigate this transition with confidence, ensuring that we are ready to resume our normal activities safely and responsibly. 

Sources,  

• Becker’s Hopsital, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/flu-admissions-jump-ahead-of-thanksgiving-4-cdc-notes.html 
• CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2023-2024/week45.htm 
• CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/flu-burden/php/data-vis-vac/2019-2020-prevented.html 

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