Week 43 Flu & Flu-Like Activity - Credit CDC FluView Report
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Friday's CDC FluView report - which is based on data current through Epi Week 43 (ending October 30, 2021), suggests that most of the country is still reporting minimal flu (or flu-like) activity, with only two states (NM & NV) reporting moderate and low rates.
As useful as they are, surveillance reports such as FluView are always looking backwards - usually to what conditions were a week or two ago - and since influenza outbreaks are often abrupt and fast moving, they can sometimes give us a false sense of security.
On Friday, in Rhode Island: Early Reports Of Seasonal Influenza, we looked at a report from the University of Rhode Island (URI) of `. . .a significant increase in the number of confirmed influenza cases and those who have influenza-like illness.'.
This outbreak (which reportedly began in late October) is apparently severe enough that the university warned `Our Health Services team has surpassed its capacity to meet the requests for same-day service despite increased staffing' and `If this trend continues, we will be faced with difficult decisions regarding additional restrictions.'
Florida, very much like Rhode Island, is seeing its own early season outbreaks of influenza, with reports coming from at least 3 Universities; University of Florida, Florida State University, and FAMU, and local hospitals.
Our first stop, a post late this week from Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, reporting a large increase in flu cases in their Urgent Care Centers.
On Friday, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper carried the following headline:
'Overwhelmed': Influenza rampant at FSU and FAMU as experts point to flu vaccine hesitancy
'We are seeing a lot of cases of the flu,' a FAMU official said. 'I'm concerned'
Christopher Cann and Dejania Oliver(Excerpt)
An FSU professor, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Democrat Wednesday he "had 40% of one class missing today."
Amy Magnuson, director of FSU’s Health Services, says they have over 20 new cases a day – a number that is steadily increasing, but is likely much less than the actual total.
Meanwhile, at FAMU there were 102 positive flu cases reported from the university's community site on Wednesday alone, according to FAMU Director of Health Services Tanya Tatum.
(Continue . . .)Meanwhile, the University of Florida's Football team - which suffered a major defeat last night to South Carolina - was reportedly decimated by flu this week, with their quarterback Emory Jones testing positive on Saturday morning, and many players too sick to go to practice this week.
Additionally, a swim meet between two Florida universities - scheduled for this weekend - was canceled due to flu (see FLORIDA VS. FLORIDA STATE MEET CANCELED BY NON-COVID RELATED ILLNESSES).
And with the CDC Concerned Over Low Estimate Of Flu Vaccine Uptake this Fall, and indications that coinfection with COVID and Flu can lead to more severe illness, and increased deaths, this early appearance of influenza should be taken seriously.
