New h3n2 virus

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites are in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Stephen McMullan, M.D./Family Medicine/Mayo Clinic." "Coinfection is rare with Historic activity for areas with rising cases ― the eastern and central parts of the U.S. as of the first week of 2022 ― show flu typically peaks in late January and February. As to why flu is surging earlier, Dr. McMullan explains that several factors could be the cause. "We're all a little bit more back together than we were a year ago," says Dr. McMullan. "The kids are back in school, and we have more events that people are attending, which could explain why we're seeing flu cases rise." The CDC lists the dominant strain of flu this season as H3N2, which the current vaccine is formulated to protect against. However, nearly When it comes to recognizing symptoms, Dr. McMullan says COVID-19 and flu are similar. He recommends "Nasal congestion; coughing; maybe a sore throat; and difficulty breathing or catching your breath, especially with exertion, can be symptoms of the flu," says Dr. McMullan. "More commonly, what we see are fevers and body aches, specifically muscle aches may be more indicative of the flu itself, rather than other upper respiratory viruses or even COVID-19." If you do contract the flu, Dr. McMullan recommends isolating from those in your household to prevent further spread, and he says that most people will be able to self-treat with symptomatic medications such as anti-...