Early signs pointing to mild flu season in SWVA
By: Eli Lamport
​
Dec 12, 2024
Local healthcare providers are cautiously optimistic about the severity of the 2024/25 flu season. Despite this, basic practices such as handwashing, staying home when sick, and getting your flu shot will be key to minimizing the risk of a more severe outbreak.
Blacksburg, VA, Dec. 10, 2024 - CVS pharmacy is one of the largest vaccine providers in the United States. This location on South Main Street is one of two in Blacksburg. Photo: Eli Lamport
In southwest Virginia, the change of season from fall to winter brings an array of changes. Vibrant fall colors fade, and cold, dry weather emerges. The start of winter also heralds increased rates of virus-related illnesses, such as COVID-19 and the flu. According to data from the CDC, 2023/24 was considered a "moderately severe" flu season, with about 380,000 people being hospitalized nationally due to the virus. Healthcare professionals at the local level are working hard to minimize the severity of this flu season.
​​
​
​
In Blacksburg, Virginia, Colleen Farmer is the director of communications at Schiffert Health Center, the on-campus health clinic at Virginia Tech. Farmer says the early signs are positive in terms of what can be expected during this flu season locally. She explains "we haven't seen a severe spike in flu and COVID cases post-thanksgiving like we have in years past." Weekly data published by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) supports this trend. During the first week of December 2023, 16,712 people were admitted to emergency rooms in Virginia for respiratory illnesses (such as flu and COVID). At the same point in December 2024, 14,229 Virgninian's have been admitted, a 15 percent decrease. VDH has also classified the current flu risk in southwest Virginia as "moderate."
​
It's likely that some of this early success can be attributed to vaccination efforts in the fall. In October, Schiffert Health center partnered with Blacksburg Pharmacy for a Flu and COVID vaccine drive. Megan Nelson, a pharmacist at Blacksburg Pharmacy was encouraged by the turnout at the event. In particular "I was happy to see more people getting both the Flu shot and COVID booster together." This is because the CDC recommends this practice, known as "co-administration." According to Colleen Farmer, 1,165 flu vaccinations were administered at the clinic, in addition to 460 COVID boosters.
When it comes to minimizing your own risk of getting the flu this season, Nelson says the importance of basics like hand-washing can't be overstated. Additionally, she says that "wiping down heavily used surfaces like counters, TV remotes and door knobs is key." If you do happen to come down with the flu, Nelson advises rest and hydration. She generally does not recommend over the counter combination flu medications such as Theraflu. "Many people take them in addition to Tylenol, when they already have the same active ingredient as Tylenol, which can put you at risk of an overdose." Despite the positive early returns, the true severity of this flu season remains to be seen.