Health experts warn of early flu season, chances of 'tripledemic' rising in Alachua County

Florida’s influenza rate has more than tripled in less than two months at a time when many families have eagerly awaited to gather for the holidays for the first time post-pandemic.

Data shows infections are only getting worse in some parts of the state.

A weekly report from the Florida Department of Health shows that the state’s flu positivity rate spiked from 5% to about 17% since October, while the number of individual positive cases has also tripled with a weekly average case count of nearly 50,000.

Alachua County is not immune, as influenza cases are also on the rise locally with the H3N2 strain dominating infections.

“Seasonal activity is high across the country and those trends are similar in Florida and Alachua County,” said Paul Myers, administrator of the county’s Florida Department of Health branch.

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The figures come as health professionals are now dealing with a three-headed monster and warn of a "tripledemic."

Hospitals have reported seeing an increase in the number of children being infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), while health experts have also warned that the coronavirus is still prevalent. They argue that the incoming COVID-19 data, however, is flawed − largely due to lax testing and fewer doctor offices reporting positive cases.

Though the flu can affect anyone, it's elderly adults and children under 5 years old who appear to be most infected, with older adults getting the brunt of the strain’s effects. Myers said the flu often starts with children before passing the virus along, which is why the health department makes it a point to go into schools and offer free flu vaccines.

"Unlike covid, children are the super-spreaders of the flu," he said. "They shed more virus for a longer period of time than adults.”

How the virus works and how to stop it

The H3H2 strain infecting most people is the same variant as last year, but it has caused an uptick in emergency room visits due to more severe infections in 2022.

The strain was first discovered in 2010 to have originated from birds and pigs, similar to the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (swine flu) gene, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant was later detected in people in July 2011.

The CDC has reported seven deaths from influenza nationwide over the past week, bringing the death toll to 21. Of those, four were reported in Florida, though none in Alachua County.

Historical data suggests the country is experiencing an earlier-than-normal flu season, as January and February are typically the worst months for reported infections.

“To have this type of activity early in the season … it’s the highest rate we’ve observed since 2010-2011,” Myers said. “This is a very severe flu season.”

Experts say much of the suffering can be avoided with a simple vaccine and treatments, which has antivirals proven to reduce the effects of the virus. The CDC and other health officials recommend that everyone over the age of six months, who doesn’t have any contraindications, receive the annual flu vaccine.

“While it may not prevent infection, it will certainly reduce the effects of the infections,” Myers said.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Flu cases are on the rise in Alachua County, health experts warn