Flu season expected to be really bad in Illinois. Here's why and how to protect yourself

Chris Green, Rockford Register Star
·3 min read
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ROCKFORD — Masking, social distancing, limited travel, frequent handwashing and of course vaccinations and booster shots all helped curb the spread of COVID-19.

Those same measures over the past year also helped to limit the spread and severity of the flu.

Now that COVID-19 precautions have laxed, children are back in school, and people are traveling more, healthcare providers are concerned that this year's flu season could be a doozy.

Natalie DiLeonardo, an OSF Saint Anthony family physician, said, "Usually during the winter months, all of those bugs spike up just because we're indoors more and around each other more. So, yeah. I can definitely see that happening with the decrease in mask wearing and the restrictions being less."

What is the flu?

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. While most people who get flu will just feel sick, some experience severe illness and even death.

How dangerous is it?

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 2,106 people died from flu/pneumonia, the ninth leading cause of death in 2019 in Illinois. In 2020, the number flu/pneumonia deaths rose to 2,430 and was the 10th leading cause of death, but in 2021, the number of flu/pneumonia deaths dropped to 1,679 making it the 12th leading cause of death.

When is flu season?

In the U.S., most flu activity occurs from October to May, with peak flu activity occurring between December and March.

Why do health officials think this year's flu season will be bad?

To predict each year's season, epidemiologists study how the virus spreads in Australia and the rest of the southern hemisphere, which experience its flu season before the United States.

As of this month, Australia is nearing the end of its worst flu season in five years. Cases were about three times higher than the average during that five-year period, and the country reached its peak roughly two months earlier than usual, according to government surveillance reports.

Who should get a flu vaccine?

The CDC and Winnebago County Health Department recommend everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year.

Go to your primary care provider or local pharmacy for your flu vaccine or find a vaccine provider near you at vaccines.gov.

Health officials recommend getting the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot at the same time.

How do doctors come up with the flu vaccine?

Based on what they learn from studying early outbreaks, the CDC and World Health Organization determine which strains of the flu pose the highest threats and develop a formula for that year's flu vaccine.

"Some years, they have a better success rate than others. It reaches a percentage of effectiveness." DiLeonardo said. "Sadly, we won't know until after the season. But what I tell my patients is a little protection is better than nothing."

Is it possible to get the flu and the coronavirus at the same time?

Yes. Some have even dubbed the dual diagnosis as "flurona."

The primary symptoms of flu and COVID — fever, muscle and body aches, fatigue, coughing — are similar, but different viruses cause COVID-19 and flu.

"Things that I notice that are different is that COVID sometimes has a little bit more of a soar throat component and it also causes more respiratory problems," DiLeonardo said.

What are symptoms of the flu

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

  • fever or feeling feverish/chills

  • cough

  • sore throat

  • runny or stuffy nose

  • muscle or body aches

  • headaches

  • fatigue (tiredness)

  • some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children than adults.

Anyone can get sick from the flu, but those at higher risk for developing complications include the young, the old and those with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Illinois flu season expected to be bad flu vaccine