The Pycube Roundup: Stay Informed and Protect Yourself This Flu Season

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Woman lying on her side on a couch, covered in a blanket and holding a mug in one hand while coughing into the other.

Measles on the Rise

Measle outbreaks have been popping up on and off over the past two decades throughout the US. Both the CDC and the World Health Organization issued a warning in November of a "staggering"  increase in measles cases and deaths globally. "The fact that we're seeing sporadic measles cases, to me, says that we probably have pockets in the United States where we're not doing a good job vaccinating, and I'm worried that this is a trend that's been getting worse over the years," says Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, to ABC News. 

As vaccination rates slowly decline due to misinformation or health, personal, religious, and political reasons, the likelihood  of catching an unwanted cold or disease begins to rise. Diseases such as measles were declared eliminated in 2000, according to the CDC, and cases do remain low overall. However, with people wanting to be vaccinated less and less, especially after the peak of COVID-19 in 2020, there's been a steady increase of measles throughout the years.

While this is a concern in the US, measles is a bigger problem on a global scale, allowing the disease could come from anywhere. The CDC mentions, "Over 61 million doses of measles-containing vaccine were postponed or missed from 2020 to 2022 due to COVID-19 related delays in supplementary immunization activities." This means the possibility of an even bigger outbreak than what we're currently seeing could happen quickly if people don't take precautionary measures early on.

Third Highest COVID Surge in the US

The current COVID variant, JN.1, is the 3rd most viral variant following the Omicron variant of 2022 and the initial outbreak of 2020. Michael Hoerger, Ph.D., assistant professor at Tulane University School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com that "mid-December 2023 to mid-February 2024 will be the peak of the current wave and that 1 in 3 Americans will be infected with COVID" during this time. Even though we're in the middle of a large surge, there's no need to panic. Hospitalizations and deaths aren't on the same level as they used to be back in 2020. However, just because this variant isn't as harmful doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously.

Because of how easily transmittable it is, the recommendations from previous years are back. Getting the latest COVID vaccine, wearing a mask when indoors, and frequently washing your hands are all great ways to keep the virus at bay. There has been a smaller amount of people who received the newest COVID vaccine, and it seems like people have started to forget to remain up to date with it. If you haven't gone to get your vaccine yet, this is your sign to do so! This variant seems to be a bit stronger compared to the more recent variants, so be vigilant in maintaining your health and protecting the health and well-being of others around you.

Flu Season Continues

The CDC estimates there have already been 150,000 to 320,000 flu hospitalizations nationwide this season. It's worth noting that the season they're accounting for starts from October 1st, 2023, through January 6th, 2024, so there's not an immediate cause for alarm, but this is the highest rate of hospitalizations at this point of the season in the past 11 years.

With all of the other diseases and viruses on our radar, it's easy for the flu to slip our minds. However, it's crucial to remember that the flu should be taken just as seriously as any other illness. Not only can it cause mild to severe illness, but it can potentially have lasting long-term effects similar to COVID-19, affecting your lungs and airways. 

As we continue to navigate through this flu season, it's important to remember to take proactive measures to protect your health. We hope you stay safe, happy, and healthy!

 

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