Chicago's Flu Season Anticipated to Be Long and Brutal This Year. Here's What You Need to Know.
As Chicagoans prepare for the onset of winter, health officials are warning that this year's flu season is expected to be particularly brutal. According to Dr. Emily Landon, the University of Chicago's top infectious disease expert, the city is bracing itself for a long and potentially devastating flu season.
The main culprit behind this forecast is the delayed introduction of the new flu vaccine, which has led to a mismatch between what was modeled after the southern hemisphere's flu strains last year and the actual strains that emerged in the US. This means that the vaccine won't be as effective against this year's circulating strains.
To make matters worse, the virus has undergone significant antigenic drift, or changes, throughout the southern hemisphere's winter, rendering it less effective at evading immunity. As a result, Chicagoans may find themselves more susceptible to infection, especially those with weaker immune systems.
While flu hospitalizations are already on the rise in the Chicago area, Dr. Landon is cautioning against complacency. She advises that people take precautions such as wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and washing their hands regularly – especially when flying or engaging in crowded activities.
In addition to getting vaccinated, officials recommend taking extra steps like cleaning off tray tables with disinfectant wipes on planes and keeping surfaces clean to minimize the risk of transmission.
With COVID-19 still posing a threat, officials are closely monitoring its spread this season. While cases have been relatively low so far, Dr. Landon warns that the virus is not yet settled into a predictable pattern and may surge after the holiday travel season gets underway.
As the city prepares for what could be one of the worst flu seasons in recent history, residents are advised to take proactive steps to protect themselves against infection and minimize their risk of getting sick.
As Chicagoans prepare for the onset of winter, health officials are warning that this year's flu season is expected to be particularly brutal. According to Dr. Emily Landon, the University of Chicago's top infectious disease expert, the city is bracing itself for a long and potentially devastating flu season.
The main culprit behind this forecast is the delayed introduction of the new flu vaccine, which has led to a mismatch between what was modeled after the southern hemisphere's flu strains last year and the actual strains that emerged in the US. This means that the vaccine won't be as effective against this year's circulating strains.
To make matters worse, the virus has undergone significant antigenic drift, or changes, throughout the southern hemisphere's winter, rendering it less effective at evading immunity. As a result, Chicagoans may find themselves more susceptible to infection, especially those with weaker immune systems.
While flu hospitalizations are already on the rise in the Chicago area, Dr. Landon is cautioning against complacency. She advises that people take precautions such as wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and washing their hands regularly – especially when flying or engaging in crowded activities.
In addition to getting vaccinated, officials recommend taking extra steps like cleaning off tray tables with disinfectant wipes on planes and keeping surfaces clean to minimize the risk of transmission.
With COVID-19 still posing a threat, officials are closely monitoring its spread this season. While cases have been relatively low so far, Dr. Landon warns that the virus is not yet settled into a predictable pattern and may surge after the holiday travel season gets underway.
As the city prepares for what could be one of the worst flu seasons in recent history, residents are advised to take proactive steps to protect themselves against infection and minimize their risk of getting sick.
like seriously though, delayed vaccine introduction is super concerning... cant we just get it right for once? anyway, gotta take precautions now, mask up, sanitize those hands etc 
planes are like petri dishes, anyone flying should def clean tray tables with disinfectant wipes pls 
also, lets all do our part to minimize risk & not make the flu season even worse 
i'm all about being prepared, so i'm already on it - got my flu shot done, and i'm making sure to wash those hands like they're going outta style 
gotta stay vigilant, especially with covid still lurking around in the background 
anyways, can't believe we have to go through this again... when will we just get a decent flu season, am i right? 
this is so not what we need right now... another flu season means more sniffles, coughs, and worries for our health 
what else can we do? clean our stuff on planes is one thing but how about like making those planes actually ventilate properly in the first place 
i even got some disinfectant wipes for my backpack in case i need to clean off the tray table on a plane 
i'm also planning on wearing masks when i go out especially if there are a lot of people around 
i think its so lame that they dont have new flu vax out yet lol! thats like, super easy to prevent flu but go ahead & wait till it gets bad then 
especially with COVID-19 still around. I'm planning on stockpiling some extra hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes just in case 
it's also a good reminder to stay hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get plenty of sleep - all the basics for keeping our immune systems strong 
This is just another excuse for people to stay home and binge-watch Netflix...
. Dr. Landon's right, we gotta take precautions like wearin' masks, sanitizin' our hands, and washin' 'em regularly 
! It's gonna be a tough winter, but if we work together, we can minimize the risk of transmission. COVID-19 is still out there, so we gotta stay vigilant 
and it's gonna be a wild ride!!! with that new vaccine being delayed, i'm low-key freaking out 
especially if you're flying or going to crowded events, clean those surfaces and keep it safe 
and tbh, covid-19 is still out there too, so let's not get complacent 
just got my flu shot, now it's time for me to be extra responsible 
, yoga 
, and lots of sleep. maybe we can all try to do the same? it's crazy that the flu vaccine isn't effective this year... i'm definitely getting vaccinated ASAP 
. we need to be extra careful about masking up, washing hands, and keeping surfaces clean 
️. tray tables are a breeding ground for germs, ugh! 
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its weird how the new vaccine got delayed like what were they thinking? 
anyways, people need to get vaccinated ASAP but also gotta be careful with their hygiene and try not to spread it around too much 
