Flu season started early

Key Points:

• Flu cases have been rising since late August, earlier than the typical October start, with current activity levels similar to usual peak months of December or January, though most of the country remains at minimal flu levels.
• This year’s flu season began in western states like California, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, which may indicate changes in flu virus patterns.
• The FDA approved a new mRNA flu vaccine called mFluSiva for adults 50 and older, which uses mRNA technology to instruct immune cells to fight the flu and shows about 27% better effectiveness than traditional vaccines.
• Experts recommend adults aged 50 to 64, especially those with chronic health conditions, consider the mRNA vaccine, but emphasize that getting any flu shot is better than none, as traditional vaccines remain widely available.
• The CDC advises everyone six months and older to get an annual flu shot, with this year’s vaccines targeting H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B strains, noting that H1N1 has been the predominant strain in recent positive flu tests.