2019-2020 Influenza: B strain’s moment to shine!

Every year as fall comes around there are some traditions that we can always count on: the leaves changing, a new school year, and flu season. In my opinion, this has seemed like one of the worst flu seasons we have had in a long time. There are also statistics that support my theory that this is an especially rough flu season. According to Rachael Rettner, a senior writer at Live Science, the CDC reported that “In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season”. Rettner points out that although these are high numbers, there is a predictability about Influenza that provides a sliver of relief. For example, in the case Novel Coronavirus nobody knows what to expect or how long it will last. 

Influenza occurs every year and number of those infected always drops after the first couple months of the year. By that time, a new vaccine for the upcoming flu season is in the works. When creating the flu vaccine researchers include both A stains and B strains. According to the Washington Post, normally “the A strain of influenza dominates during the early months, and the B strain shows up toward the end”. This year there has been a prominent B strain that is accounting for many more influenza cases than B strains typically do. This B strain is most harmful to children and has resulted in over 30 pediatric deaths.

 Many uneducated anti-vaxxers may claim that this is evidence of the flu vaccine not working, but they would be mistaken (as they usually are). The B strain that is going around is not the exact one that was included in the vaccine, but it still provides protection because they are somewhat similar. As the wise Dr. Cramer said in microbiology class: “SOME PROTECTION IS BETTER THAN NO PROTECTION”. The Washington Post discussed a study done by the CDC and they found that out of almost 200 pediatric patients with Influenza B, none had been vaccinated. Hopefully the tragedies this year can serve as a warning and come next flu season more people will choose to be vaccinated. Until then remember to wash your hands, because even if you got your flu shot you may still get Coronavirus…good luck :).