Cases of influenza are low in Pennsylvania right now, but it’s too early to say how prevalent the disease will be in the 2020-21 season.
Pennsylvania Department of Health officials reminded residents this week to get a flu shot and take other precautions to prevent the state from dealing with a flu outbreak at the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high and we cannot afford to have a flu epidemic in Pennsylvania at the same time as this global pandemic,” said Ray Barishansky, deputy secretary of health preparedness and community protection, in a press release Monday. “If you have not already done so, get your flu shot today. If you have already gotten your flu vaccine this year, thank you for helping Pennsylvanians stay protected together.
“We know that people who get the flu after being vaccinated have a less severe case and are not sick as long as those who do not get vaccinated,” Barishansky continued. “The safety and health of Pennsylvanians remains our number one concern.”
According to the Department of Health’s Influenza Season Data webpage, the department officially begins surveillance of the flu in the 40th week of the year, which began on Sept. 27 this year. The 2020-21 flu season ends May 22, 2021.
For Week 48, ending Nov. 28, flu activity is considered low across Pennsylvania.
The department reported 480 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza. These cases come from 40 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Testing has identified both Influenza A and B.
There have been 12 influenza associated hospitalizations and one death, according to the Department of Health. The person who died was in the 50-64 age range.
Data for the week of Nov. 22-28 was the most recent available on the website.
Nate Wardle, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, indicated there are multiple reasons for the current low flu activity.
When asked about the role COVID-19 mitigation efforts have on the current low flu numbers, Wardle said, “Mask-wearing and social distancing are playing a role in the fact that flu activity is low across the commonwealth, but the main reason is because it is still early in the flu season.”
Wardle referred to a chart on the department’s flu page that compares the flu seasons of 2012-13 through this year’s season. During most of the years graphed on the chart, it appears that the number of flu cases starts to grow more rapidly around Week 50 or later.
Looking at the chart, “You can see that this flu season is similar to previous seasons in terms of case counts,” he said. “Notice that last year, 2019-2020 was the outlier with significantly more cases for this time of year.”
County-specific information was not available on Tuesday. A table set up on the Department of Health’s flu page remains blank.
Wardle agreed that county-by-county data has not been posted to the department’s flu page due to the current low number of flu cases.
“The table is empty because most counties need to (have) at least five influenza cases before the department begins updating that county case counts table,” he explained. “If there are less than five cases in a county, the department redacts that case count. While some counties have reached that 5 case threshold, most have not as it is still early in the flu season.”
According to the Department of Health, anyone 6 months or older can receive a vaccine as a flu shot, and anyone age 2 or older can receive a vaccine as a flu shot or nasal spray. Vaccines are available at places including doctors’ offices, pharmacies, local clinics or some grocery stores.
Common symptoms of flu are fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.
In addition to vaccines, the department offered these tips to avoid the spread of illness this winter: covering one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing; frequently washing one’s hands; disinfecting commonly touched objects such as door knobs, light switches, countertops, phones and computers; wearing a mask; and social distancing. Officials encourage Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app, too.
