HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Last winter we saw virtually no cases of the flu. Fast forward to this summer and now we see a spike in cold and flu cases during the pandemic.
WZDX's Keneisha Deas spoke with Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Public Health on why this is happening this time of year.
Landers says it’s not so many Influenza cases in Alabama that it has them on alert, but there are some factors to consider.
“We’re already detecting some flu. Of course, Influenza circulates year-round. We have to remember it’s not just Influenza in October through March,” said Landers.
Landers says while people are getting tests results for both COVID and the flu too.
“There are certainly platforms that test not only for SARS-COV2 but also test for Influenza,” she said.
There are also fewer mandates this year to slow the spread of the virus.
“Last year we saw less Influenza because we had many more masks than we do this year,” said Landers.
You’re encouraged to protect yourself ahead of the flu season by getting your dose.
“Certainly go ahead and get your Influenza vaccine this year, even if you’re not vaccinated this year.” I hope you will be vaccinated against COVID, but if not please protect yourself against influenza,” said Landers.
“January, February at our peak. We’re approaching that number and here we are in August. So it is certainly a situation where we do not want more people to be sick with an additional respiratory virus that we can take measures to reduce and prevent,” added Landers.