Is COVID on the rise again? The latest COVID news, FLiRT variant symptoms and bird flu outbreak 2024

This Season's Flu Is More Severe, Leading To More ER Visits, Boston Health Officials Say

Boston health officials said Wednesday that along with an unusual second, late surge of flu cases across the state, the illness's severity has also increased this season.

"People aren't always taking influenza as seriously as they should," said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, speaking at a news conference. "When we think about transmission and risk to other people, it's important to use the strategies we have like staying home when sick, washing your hands, covering your cough, and cleaning high-touch surfaces."

In Massachusetts, people are reporting flu-like symptoms at a higher rate than any winter peak since before COVID broke out five years ago, the Globe previously reported.

The increased severity has led to a surge in emergency room visits, Ojikutu said. Flu-related hospitalizations in the state also increased with the second wave, with 7.76 percent of hospitalizations related to the virus the week of Feb. 9 as compared to about 2.72 percent this time last year. That was down from 9.66 percent of hospitalizations the week of Feb. 2.

"We are still concerned though, because we will likely continue to see flu cases well into April and potentially May," she said, adding that increased ER visits have led to longer wait times. "Many people have challenges reaching their primary care provider or they don't have a primary care provider, which is why people are going to the emergency department."

Flu infections peaked in early January, then decreased. After cresting the first week of February, infections are down again, according to the most recent state data.

"This differs from last year, because it's a significantly higher number of cases than we usually see, and it's late in the season to see this number of cases," Ojikutu said.

During the week of Feb. 9, 10.22 percent of visits to doctors' offices across Massachusetts were related to flu-like symptoms, including a cough, sore throat, and fever.

Typically, during the peak of flu season, 6 or 7 percent of doctor's visits are related to the virus.

Ojikutu said officials have noted "a higher number of cases in working-age individuals as well as individuals who are older and have other co-morbidities."

The increase in cases and severity could be linked to low vaccination numbers, officials said. The percentage of residents vaccinated for the flu is the lowest since the 2019-2020 season, state data show, sitting at 38.8 percent. By comparison, 40.6 percent of residents were vaccinated by this time in the 2023-2024 season, and 44.4 percent in the 2022-2023 season.

"Right now when we look at our vaccination data, it's not quite where we want it to be," Ojikutu said, adding the state lags behind the national adult flu vaccination rate of 45.3 percent. "None of these numbers are an optimal rate of vaccination."

She noted that while the flu can "always cause severe illness," people who are pregnant, have chronic health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, or who are older than 65 or younger than 2 are at higher risk of complications.

The highest rate of vaccination in the state is among people younger than 5 years old, at 45.7 percent, and older than 65, at over 70 percent. The lowest is 24.5 percent for people ages 20 to 34, state data show.

According to UChicago Medicine, the flu vaccine typically lasts for about six months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people get a vaccine every year, because the shots are reviewed annually and updated when necessary to offer the best protection against the constantly changing virus.

Ojikutu said it's not too late for people to get vaccinated, and free flu shot clinics are available throughout Boston.

"We want more people to get vaccinated," she said. "Everyone ages 6 months and older should be vaccinated for influenza and COVID-19."

Flu frenzy: Infections surge in Mass.

Doctor visits are climbing. Correspondent Emily Spatz explains why cases are so high, how this season is different, and if there's relief in sight.

Emily Spatz can be reached at emily.Spatz@globe.Com. Follow her on X @emilymspatz.

30 Flu Deaths Reported In Ventura County, Highest Since Lethal 2018 Season

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Bird Flu And Your DogCasey's Corner

We all know what it feels like to have the flu. Fever, body aches, coughing, congestion, chills, sore throat . . . In general, feeling like you've been hit by a 10-ton truck.

You may not know that dogs can be infected with the flu as well … specifically, the highly contagious canine influenza. (It's important to note that the canine influenza virus is completely different than the flu virus that infects humans, and cannot be passed to humans.) Symptoms of the flu in dogs are similar to those in humans but typically much milder — in fact, some dogs will show no symptoms at all.

Today, however, there's a new virus on the block that has the potential of becoming much more dangerous to our dogs: the H5N1 virus. Commonly known as the "bird flu," the avian influenza virus has killed almost 13,000 wild birds and 163 million poultry in the U.S. Alone. This recent strain is considered "highly pathogenic," causing severe disease and death.

As has been widely reported, this virus has now spread from birds to mammals: specifically, dairy cows and humans who work with them. (Since the beginning of 2024, 77% of all cases of avian flu in cattle have occurred in California.) Avian influenza has been found in wild animals here as well, including mountain lions, raccoons, fishers, skunks, bobcats, seals and most recently black rats. In Butte County, more than 38,000 birds were confirmed to be affected by the virus in January.

That's where your dog comes in. Most of us know that our pups love to roll in smelly things, especially dead things. If the carcass is that of a bird, the attraction can be even more compelling. Since the virus is so easily transmissible, simply having contact with an infected dead bird or animal could result in your dog becoming infected. While the chances of dogs developing avian influenza are very low at this time, the landscape of this virus is changing rapidly. Barn and feral cats have now begun to be infected, becoming either severely ill or dying from the illness.

Signs of infection in pets include severe depression, profuse discharge from eyes and nose, fever, lethargy and low appetite, breathing difficulties and neurologic signs such as tremors, seizures, incoordination or blindness. Recent investigations link food — unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat and poultry, and retail pet diets containing raw meat — as a source of infection.

Although some of these symptoms can be associated with common respiratory illnesses, it's best to contact your veterinarian, who can run lab tests to exclude H5N1. Be sure to tell your vet if your dog may have eaten a dead bird or other animal or consumed raw milk or meat.

To keep both you and your dog safe during this outbreak, if you find a dead bird or other animal on your property or on a walk, make sure neither of you come into contact with it. Prevent your dog from chasing water fowl such as ducks or geese in local parks or waterways and keep them away from wild birds, poultry and cattle. Keep your dog's food and water out of reach of wild birds or rodents.

Obviously, prevent your dog from eating dead birds or other animals, and do not feed them raw meat, poultry or unpasteurized milk.

Unfortunately, we have no idea what the coming months may mean for this disease or if the virus will suddenly begin to affect our dogs in large numbers. The best we can do is take measures to protect them and be vigilant.

Joan Merriam lives in Nevada City with her new golden retriever Frankie, her Maine coon cat Indy, and the infinite spirits of her beloved goldens Joey and Casey. You can reach Joan at joan@joanmerriam.Com. And if you're looking for a golden, hop on over to Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.

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