#Roommates, the country is currently experiencing a very, very bad flu season! How bad? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus has spread to 46 states and has caused at least 106 deaths since December. Hospitals across the country are under strain and flu-related emergency room visits are at a high. We want y’all to stay healthy out there, so here are some things you need to know.
California is one of the hardest-hit states. According to The Los Angeles Times, “So many people have fallen sick with influenza [the flu] in California that pharmacies have run out of flu medicines, emergency rooms are packed, and the death toll is rising higher than in previous years. Influenza symptoms include fever, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, headaches and body aches.
According to Dan Jernigan, “This is the first year we have had the entire continental U.S. be the same color on the graph, meaning there is widespread activity in all of the continental U.S. at this point.” He works as the director of the influenza division at the national Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Flu is everywhere in the U.S. right now,,” he said.
To avoid the highly contagious viral infection, health care professionals recommend anyone older than 6 months to get a flu shot, wash their hands often and avoid contact with anyone coughing or sneezing. Masks are also a good way to keep sick people from spreading germs. Although vaccines are having trouble targeting this nasty strain of influenza going around, it’s still high recommend to get a flu shot.
TSR STAFF: Myeisha E.! @myeisha.essex on IG
