Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Delaware has confirmed only one case of the flu for the 2022-2023 flu season. Delaware health officials originally stated there were two cases, but later corrected that number. The second case was confirmed before the current flu season started.
A few days into the 2022-2023 flu season, Delaware saw its first case of the flu in what is expected to be a rampant period for flu transmission.
Oct. 2 marked the official start of the latest flu season, and the Delaware Division of Public Health released details Wednesday about the first confirmed case.
The first case occurred in Kent County with a 32-year-old woman who was vaccinated and contracted the A strain of influenza.
This case arises about a week after the state alerted the public to the severity of the flu and highlighted the importance of getting vaccinated.
“Announcing our first case of the flu, just days after the start of the season, is a strong indicator for Delawareans to get their flu shot as soon as possible,” said Acting Director of Public Health Dr. Rick Hong, in a statement. “The flu is a threat to our health, and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from getting it, or at least reduce the severity of symptoms and illness if you do get it.”
When is flu season and how long is it?
Although the flu is detected throughout the year in the United States, the viruses usually circulate during the fall and winter.
The exact length of the flu season varies, but flu activity is known to increase in October and peak between December and February. The flu can also last until May, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of the flu season, along with flu activity, has been less predictable than in previous years.
Delaware flu facts and what to expect this flu season
During the 2021-2022 flu season, Delaware reported more than 2,700 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu.
More than 150 people have been hospitalized due to the flu and three people have died from flu complications, according to state public health.
Recent data suggests that these numbers will increase with the start of this year’s flu season in the US.
The southern hemisphere, which experiences flu season from May to September and serves as a preview of what the US could experience, saw flu cases reach pre-pandemic levels this summer.
As of mid-July 2021, Australia reported around 400 flu cases, with no hospitalizations or deaths, similar to the low flu transmission seen in the US in recent years.
This summer, about 205,000 cases were reported in Australia in mid-July, with 1,500 hospitalizations and 181 deaths.
These numbers exceeded pre-pandemic flu activity in 2019, when around 150,000 cases were reported in mid-July in Australia.
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Who can get vaccinated
The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone 6 months and older and is safe to give at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.
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who is at risk
During normal flu season activity, children under the age of 2 and adults over the age of 65 are considered to be most at risk for complications from the flu, along with those with underlying medical conditions, according to the CDC.
The most recent influenza data from Australia shows that children aged 5 to 9 years have the highest rate of influenza cases this year, followed by children aged 4 years and under, and adolescents.
About 60% of Australia’s hospitalizations came from children under 16, a number that suggests overall population immunity is relatively low and explains the onset of an early flu season.
Where to get vaccinated
The antibodies that protect against flu virus infection take about two weeks to develop in the body, so experts urge the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible to develop immunity.
Getting a flu shot now will give you protection throughout the flu season.
Flu shots are offered at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and federally qualified health centers.
Public health clinics for the uninsured and underinsured are offered by the stateas well as vaccination opportunities in community settings through DPH mobile units.
Local flu shot opportunities can be found using the CDC Flu Finderby visiting flu.delaware.gov or by calling 800-282-8672.
Additional flu information and safety tips
To prevent the spread of the flu, you can take these steps in addition to getting a flu shot:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue
- Maintain 6 feet of space between others, especially people outside of your household
As with COVID-19, flu symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, muscle or body aches, fever or feeling feverish/chills and aches head
If you experience these symptoms, along with the COVID-19 symptoms of a change or loss of taste or smell, visit your health care provider or get tested for COVID-19.
Those who get the flu should stay home and not return to work, school, or other gatherings until they have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours.
People with flu symptoms should avoid close contact with others, stay well hydrated, and take over-the-counter medications or call their doctor for antiviral prescriptions.