Health officials prep for reemergence of flu season

By KSTP

(Pexels/MGN)

While COVID-19 may still be the most prominent virus of concern in the United States right now, public health officials are also preparing for a worse influenza season.

Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic, told KAAL-TV that this year could bring a different flu season than Americans have experienced the past two years.

Part of the reason a worse flu season is expected this year is the fact that people have largely stopped wearing masks and social distancing, which helped slow the spread of not only COVID-19 but also the flu.

Virk and health officials are urging Minnesotans to seek out flu vaccinations by the end of October or as soon as they become available.

And, like with COVID, anyone who gets sick with the flu is urged to stay home and away from others until the fever is gone for 24 hours to help slow the spread to others.

MDH has more resources for dealing with the flu online.