Westfield Health Bulletin: in fighting the flu, knowledge is power

Influenza kills thousands of our most vulnerable populations annually. The impact of influenza on our communities is tangible, many of us have witnessed a friend or family member that has become seriously ill as a result. Behind this fact though is a quiet hero. Like Batman, a mere mortal, knowledge and preparation against this particular foe has proven to be our greatest strength time and again. And now, we are losing that.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been central in evaluating what kind of flu season we may have and how effective the flu vaccine may be. Given the upheaval in our federal public health system, withdrawal from the World Health Organization and government shut down, that super hero strength that we took for granted to keep us safe is non existent. Last update on flu activity in the US was recorded in September.

Typically, the CDC monitors thousands of samples from flu patients from around the world. The study of the different strains provides information of what is circulating and also contributes to the design of next year’s flu shot. Demetre Daskalakis, previous director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, stated the flow of data has come “pretty much to a grinding halt.” This loss of crucial information makes the US less able to prepare for a flu pandemic which means more deaths.

Some information on the flu is coming from the World Health Organization. WHO is working with a huge monetary and scientific loss with the recent withdrawal and governmental changes in the US. The effects of reduced influenza surveillance will be felt globally not just nationally.

Data also comes from individual states. Most states collect flu data but do not compile the data that the CDC was able to do. The states do not do the more advanced examination of the viral genetics and how it will act with our immunity.

Winter of 2024-25 influenza season reached unprecedented levels and was considered the worst in over a decade. Unfortunately, we may be headed in the same direction this year. A new strain emerged at the end of Australia’s worst flu season ever and is already seen in the US. Early data from Japan and the UK show this strain in 90% of the samples.

Flu season came a month early to the UK. While mutations are expected, this new one has had an impressive number of mutations. Japan declared a flu epidemic last month. The UK is expecting the same.

Canadian researchers published early flu data with a warning and concern for North America. An unexpected strain H3N2 subclade K is the dominant strain emerging. This strain was seen in Australia, Japan and the UK. A Canadian researcher states they usually look to the US for what’s circulating. Without that resource, concerns are rising.

The good news is UK reports that so far the vaccination is providing protection from hospitalization and severe illness. The one thing we can be sure of is that vaccination, whether the best match to the predicted strains or not is till the most important mitigation to avoid serious illness, hospitalization and death. Washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, avoiding large, indoor crowds are all crucial to the spread of the flu and other diseases.

The flu is unpredictable but researchers suggest that the activity seen thus far increases the chance that we are going to see a more intense flu season. When the flu starts early, more people get infected. Despite the mutations and concerns, the superhero we can count on is still vaccination, whatever valid, scientific knowledge and research we can access and our own common sense with communicable disease mitigation. It is the best tool to protect yourself and each other.

Take care of yourself and someone else.

Juanita Carnes is a nurse practitioner with 39 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Board of Health in Westfield, Massachusetts.