As predictable as Santa arriving on Dec. 25 is the flu rearing its ugly head about the same time. But a variant this year seems to be leading to rapid spread.
DALLAS — The busiest places in North Texas once holiday get-togethers come to an end might be emergency rooms and urgent care clinics.
The CDC tracks flu cases across the country, and Texas recently jumped from low to moderate flu activity.
The week of Dec. 14, Children’s Health saw a systemwide 175% increase in flu cases from the week prior.
Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of infectious diseases at Children’s Health and a professor of pediatrics and microbiology at UT Southwestern, says the season is in its earliest stages.
“If this is like previous seasons, we’re in for several more months of influenza,” Kahn said.
Scientists are tracking a variant called subclade K, which seems to be evading some of the immunity afforded by flu vaccines.
People describe a rapid onset of symptoms.
“That’s the calling card for influenza,” Kahn said. “You’re feeling well, and then six hours later you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. You’ve got a high fever. You can’t get out of bed. It’s the worst feeling you’ve ever had in your life. And that’s influenza.”
Kahn said there’s high value in low-tech solutions: stay home if you are starting to feel under the weather, keep your kids home if they aren’t well, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
He also said hosts of family gatherings should frequently wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and refrigerator handles.
“Somebody rubs their nose and then opens the door, well that doorknob is now contaminated,” he said
His number-one suggestion for protection is a flu shot.
It won’t provide protection during holiday celebrations, but kicks in within 7 to 10 days, which is about when kids will return to school.
Shots are not a guarantee.
You can still catch the flu – especially because of the subvariant.
But Kahn said being vaccinated means you’ll almost certainly have a milder case.
“Some effectiveness from the flu vaccine is better than zero effectiveness,” he said.