By Rachel Nguyen
A seasonal influenza hits widespread across the country every winter, but the United States appears to be in the middle of an unusual severe flu season this year according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts say that this year’s flu started much earlier than expected, putting many people in a rough situation this cold, winter season.
The flu virus is a viral respiratory disease, which can overwhelm the body and lead to one feeling brutal fevers, headaches, coughs, or runny noses. This year, the flu is already widespread in 49 states, and flu activities have elevated and intensified ever since.
Considered a tough year, 2018 has seen the flu accumulate more deaths in certain areas of the country compared to past years. Due to the fact that the flu can be a deadly disease, many people have been rushed to the emergency rooms, and even hospitalized in worse cases.
The season of flu seems to be peaking relatively early, and many claims believed that it started around the holidays—when domestic traveling was common and the spread of germs was more prevalent.
This prevalent germ—the H3N2 strain—is the basis of all causes in flu-related complications, which has led to many hospitalizations or deaths among the young and the elderly. Historically, the H3N2 strain is a dangerous strain of flu. Even with background of immunity or with the seasonal flu vaccine, which protects us against several strains of flu, it is unclear of how effective it is against the H3N2 strain. In such cases, the H3N2 strain is different in that it lowers the vaccine’s effectiveness. This year the flu vaccine against the H3N2 is 30% effective.
Tina Phan, a senior at Yerba Buena High School (YBHS), speaks out about her concerns and experience when she was caught with the flu. Having already taken her flu shot, it did not stop her from encountering the bad flu this winter season.
“I think this was the worst [flu] than what I have ever experienced because my body has never felt this tired or ached this much before, and I was sort of surprised,” she says.
The flu has halted her daily activities as being one of many victims who experienced the illness. Fortunately, she is not hit as hard as others, and is now in the process of recovering after 1–2 weeks of heavy symptoms. Tina says that she is still very concerned about the flu this year after hearing many people have died, and wishes that others around her wouldn’t have to suffer from it.
Unlike Tina who has experienced mildly flu, Han Nguyen, a sophomore at YBHS, has been to the ER multiple times because of how severe the flu has taken over her body. With a fever over 100 degrees in two consecutive days, she was seen in the Emergency Room because of the lack of effect the medication and home remedies had on her.
“When I first got to the ER, the first thing I noticed was that everyone wore their own face masks which were provided by the nurses to do so because of the ongoing flu. That’s when I realized how serious the flu is,” she says.
From Han’s experience, she was advised by the nurses to stay home to prevent the flu from spreading to others around her, and that the best course of action is to take plenty of rest until she is able to recover.
At this point in the flu season, it might seem as if it is too late to get the vaccine against the flu. However, this is not at all true. Although it is better to get the flu shot before the season starts so the body is able to build immunity earlier, it is in fact advised by many doctors to get the shot amidst the current flu season to lessen the severity when the flu starts to spread.
Although the shot wouldn’t be entirely effective, vaccination helps your body fight back and reduces your chances of being carrier of the flu, and thus not passing it onto other people.
Because of this, it is recommended you save yourself and the people around you in the battle against today’s flu by getting the shot!
The flu virus is a viral respiratory disease, which can overwhelm the body and lead to one feeling brutal fevers, headaches, coughs, or runny noses. This year, the flu is already widespread in 49 states, and flu activities have elevated and intensified ever since.
Considered a tough year, 2018 has seen the flu accumulate more deaths in certain areas of the country compared to past years. Due to the fact that the flu can be a deadly disease, many people have been rushed to the emergency rooms, and even hospitalized in worse cases.
The season of flu seems to be peaking relatively early, and many claims believed that it started around the holidays—when domestic traveling was common and the spread of germs was more prevalent.
This prevalent germ—the H3N2 strain—is the basis of all causes in flu-related complications, which has led to many hospitalizations or deaths among the young and the elderly. Historically, the H3N2 strain is a dangerous strain of flu. Even with background of immunity or with the seasonal flu vaccine, which protects us against several strains of flu, it is unclear of how effective it is against the H3N2 strain. In such cases, the H3N2 strain is different in that it lowers the vaccine’s effectiveness. This year the flu vaccine against the H3N2 is 30% effective.
Tina Phan, a senior at Yerba Buena High School (YBHS), speaks out about her concerns and experience when she was caught with the flu. Having already taken her flu shot, it did not stop her from encountering the bad flu this winter season.
“I think this was the worst [flu] than what I have ever experienced because my body has never felt this tired or ached this much before, and I was sort of surprised,” she says.
The flu has halted her daily activities as being one of many victims who experienced the illness. Fortunately, she is not hit as hard as others, and is now in the process of recovering after 1–2 weeks of heavy symptoms. Tina says that she is still very concerned about the flu this year after hearing many people have died, and wishes that others around her wouldn’t have to suffer from it.
Unlike Tina who has experienced mildly flu, Han Nguyen, a sophomore at YBHS, has been to the ER multiple times because of how severe the flu has taken over her body. With a fever over 100 degrees in two consecutive days, she was seen in the Emergency Room because of the lack of effect the medication and home remedies had on her.
“When I first got to the ER, the first thing I noticed was that everyone wore their own face masks which were provided by the nurses to do so because of the ongoing flu. That’s when I realized how serious the flu is,” she says.
From Han’s experience, she was advised by the nurses to stay home to prevent the flu from spreading to others around her, and that the best course of action is to take plenty of rest until she is able to recover.
At this point in the flu season, it might seem as if it is too late to get the vaccine against the flu. However, this is not at all true. Although it is better to get the flu shot before the season starts so the body is able to build immunity earlier, it is in fact advised by many doctors to get the shot amidst the current flu season to lessen the severity when the flu starts to spread.
Although the shot wouldn’t be entirely effective, vaccination helps your body fight back and reduces your chances of being carrier of the flu, and thus not passing it onto other people.
Because of this, it is recommended you save yourself and the people around you in the battle against today’s flu by getting the shot!