United States: Each winter brings colds and flu to people which turned this period into what we call “Flu Season” today. As explained by Starrlene Grossman, who serves as both Health Officer and Deputy Director of Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services, the flu represents only one illness currently spreading rapidly among the population, as reported by Whbl.
What Is Flu Season?
“The flu season is a time in the fall and winter when respiratory illness activity is at its highest. This tends to happen because we’re spending more time inside around other people. We’re doing more things indoors than we normally do in the warmer months of the year when we’re outside, so flu season typically begins in early fall and trails off in the spring.”
Wastewater surveillance shows a moderate amount of COVID-19 is still in our community, and now it is flu season too. Influenza A is making the rounds! Most importantly: if you are sick, stay home! Take good and gentle care of yourself. Here are a few tips to get you started. pic.twitter.com/Z3Entrd1Na
— Victoria Hospital (@TheVicWinnipeg) January 28, 2025
Two Waves of Flu Season
In a sense, there are two distinct flu seasons.
“For flu season, we typically see two waves of flu, so infections caused by Influenza A virus usually circulate in the fall and early winter, and then infections caused by Influenza B usually start circulating in late winter and early spring, so what is typical of previous flu seasons is kind of what we’re seeing this year as well.”
Beyond the Flu: A Trio of Threats
The current season features broadened symptoms, including the ongoing spread of COVID-19, along with less familiar yet serious RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which affects sensitive patient groups.
Hospital resources face pressure from treating vulnerable patients when multiple illnesses with the same severity impact healthcare facilities in Wisconsin’s Northeast Region.
“Influenza, COVID and RSV and the common cold are the respiratory viruses that are spreading most in the community. At this time, overall illness in the Northeast Region where Sheboygan is located is considered to be very high. When you look at all that respiratory illness together, we’re looking at very high respiratory illness activity in Sheboygan County.” according to Grossman.
How to Stay Healthy This Flu Season
The hope is, of course, that nobody gets so sick that they need hospitalization, so it’s important that people do their part to avoid becoming a patient, and that’s by going through the same steps we all learned during the pandemic: People should follow these steps to avoid illness: avoid public spaces when sick, get vaccinated, put masks in suitable situations, and maintain excellent hand hygiene throughout the day, as reported by Whbl.