Ever notice in classes tons of people sniffing, going to blow their nose, having a cough now and then, or a friend being too sick to come to school? Well, there’s a good reason for that, as the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) has declared this flu season the worst in 15 years.
This season’s flu is at an all-time high as it’s been filling up hospitals and even causing some schools to shut down. According to the CDC, 19,000 people have died due to a flu-related sickness. As influenza is the main virus this season, other viruses are being spread including norovirus, RSV, and Covid-19. But why is the flu season this severe?
One reason is the fact that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was forced to go into lockdown. With the world using masks and staying at home, a lot of flu viruses through 2020-22 died out. With people not being exposed to these flu viruses, humans will naturally build less of an immunity, creating an “Immunity Gap.” With this Immunity Gap, the 2023-24 flu seasons were arriving at a normal rate. But in 2024-25 there were 14 weekly hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Additionally, people during the COVID pandemic were unsure about taking the vaccine, and more and more anti-vaxxers started to appear and generally, the flu vaccine rates have since declined.
Another reason that could be the cause of this intense flu season is that according to doctor William Schaffner, a medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), makes the point that this year’s winter is strangely more cold, which leads to more people staying indoors and therefore increasing the rate in which the viruses can spread. The cold winter is due to the polar vortex acting strangely because of climate change, and causing severe weather patterns, scientists say.
Health officials say the best way to protect yourself from this flu and other viruses is to maintain good hygiene, such as thoroughly washing your hands with soap after touching commonly used surfaces. It’s also important to maintain a good amount of sleep, as a lack of sleep can weaken your immune system. The most highly-recommended way to stay clear from the flu is to get a flu shot. It is important to note that the flu shot won’t decrease the chance of getting the flu, as it will only affect how bad you get sick and can save some lives. Stay safe out there for yourself and your loved ones.
