Influenza has arrived early this year, appearing on the west coast two and a half months earlier than normal. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers flu activity to be low, but expects infections to rise as the virus spreads. This year’s dominant flu strain is an H1N1 virus with a mutation known as G155E, which may affect teens and young adults more severely.
This year’s flu vaccine is a weaker match against infection, as the dominant variant emerged after the vaccine was chosen. However, the vaccine is still protective against severe disease, hospitalization, and death. An mRNA-based flu vaccine, mFlusiva, is also available for adults 50 and older.
It’s important to get vaccinated and to stay home if ill to mitigate flu spread. While the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee has been disbanded, other major medical groups are providing reliable information. Holiday travel may boost flu infections, but precautions such as vaccination, hand-washing, masking, and staying home when sick are critical.
This summary was written with AI assistance from the original article and may leave out important context. The original reporting belongs to The Guardian · Health. Check the original, and official sources, before acting on any detail.