We are already in the middle of autumn and therefore, temperatures are beginning to drop significantly, so we will soon be starting the flu season, which lasts throughout the winter.
Experts in health of the United States warn that this year, the country could go through a “serious” flu season, derived from the fact that there are many people who have not developed the necessary immunity to deal with the disease in recent years, derived from confinement due to the Covid pandemic, and they have resumed their social life.
To this should be added that the measures against the coronavirus, such as social distancing and the use of masks, have been left behind, for which is now much more likely that people will come into contact with the flu virus, compared to what happened in 2020 and 2021.
Also, it is likely that fewer people are immune to the GV virus. ripe this year because they are the fewest who have contracted the virus in the last 2 years, given that they spent most of the time at home (and may continue to do so).
“As a population , everyone’s immunity to the flu has been reduced thanks to recent lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing…When the flu virus returns, it will probably be more contagious in the past and have more opportunity to cause problems in healthy people” , says Peter Ashman, an otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates
As Dr. Ashman explains, in a normal year, exposure to the influenza virus generates a certain “herd immunity”, since between the 10 and 30% of the population is exposed to flu in a normal flu season. But fewer people were exposed in 2020 and 2020, resulting in decreased immunity natural.
Tips to avoid getting sick this coming flu season
1) Really distinguish that it is this disease. Although the first symptoms of the flu may resemble those of the common cold, the flu can present itself with additional and more dangerous symptoms. Common cold symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, sinus pain, and pressure.
A significant feature is high fever. If you have more than 38,6°C, as well as body aches, fatigue, even nausea and vomiting, then you can spread it to others, so be recommends limiting contact with others.
If you meet all these characteristics, it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately to avoid more serious and lasting conditions, including sinusitis.
2) Get vaccinated and preventative treatment. The best and most common way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. People can get a flu shot at hundreds of locations in the New York metro area, including pharmacies.
It usually takes 2 weeks for flu shots to become effective while your body develops antibodies against the virus. During this time, the process of creating those antibodies and the immune response can cause very mild symptoms similar to the common cold for a few days.
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