Flu

Flu is currently sporadic in Maryland. No cases have been confirmed by MDH labs. Check Maryland’s FluWatch weekly reports starting the week of October 8th (click boxes across top for different data).

To prevent the flu:

1. Get your flu shot. Everyone 6 months and over should get the flu shot every year.

• The flu shot does not cause the flu. Flu vaccines are made from an inactivated virus that can’t make you sick.

2. Reduce the spread of germs including flu and coronavirus

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, because germs spread easily that way.
• Clean and disinfect things that may be contaminated with germs, like doorknobs and cell phones.
• Stay home when you are sick. Contact your healthcare provider about your symptoms and if you should be tested or need treatment.
• Avoid people who are sick. If you are caring for someone who is sick, take extra steps to prevent germs from spreading. Learn more about how to stop the spread of flu germs and how to care for someone with the flu.
• Take additional steps if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID or the flu, or if COVID-19 spread is higher in your area. Learn more about COVID prevention.

3. If you get the flu, take antivirals if recommended by your healthcare provider.

• Most otherwise healthy people can manage flu illness at home. But if you are in a higher risk group, are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider about antiviral medications.
• Antivirals are different from antibiotics. They can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia.
• Antivirals work best when they are started within two days of getting sick. Not everyone with the flu needs antivirals, so talk to your health care provider.

Flu vaccines are important for children. They:

• Reduce the risk of illness and missed school, childcare, and work
• Reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from flu in children
• Helps prevent spreading flu to family and friends, including babies younger than 6 months who are too young to get a flu vaccine

Children younger than 5 years, or of any age with certain chronic conditions are at higher risk

Some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses for best protection, if they have not had the flu vaccine before.

FAQs for Flu Season 2022-2023

If you get the flu:

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

• fever (not everyone with flu gets a fever)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

Limit contact with others as much as possible. Remember to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Get rest and drink plenty of fluids. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of medication to reduce fever).

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should go to the emergency room:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Compare the flu and COVID-19

For more information and symptoms in infants and children, visit Protect Against the Flu: Caregivers of Infants and Young Children and Children and Influenza

Pneumococcal pneumonia is an example of a serious flu-related complication that can cause death. People who are 65 years of age and older should also be up to date with pneumococcal vaccination to protect against pneumonia and related infections. Talk to your doctor to find out which pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for you.

Past flu seasons

• The 2017-18 flu season was severe, with 172 pediatric deaths in the United States, a record number in a non-pandemic year. About 80% of these deaths occurred in children who did not get the flu shot.
• The 2018–19 influenza season was moderately severe, with two waves of influenza A: A(H1N1)pdm09 peaked from October 2018 to mid-February 2019, and A(H3N2) activity increased from mid-February through mid-May.
• The 2019-2020 season saw an unusually long, early wave of influenza B. Emergency room visits for flu-like illness were high early in the year, even before COVID-19 cases began to be reported in March.
• The 2020-21 season was milder due to COVID-19 restrictions and precautions. View weekly reports and weekly summary information here: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/influenza/fluwatch/Pages/Index.aspx

Community Flu Vaccination Planning Committee

The organizations listed below are working together to provide consistent flu-related messaging and access to flu vaccinations, to increase vaccination rates and protect our community from the flu.

Updated 9/22/2022