Flu Bigger Threat To DC, VA Than Coronavirus, 5 More Deaths

WASHINGTON, DC — While the new coronavirus continues to dominate headlines and news alerts, the flu is a much bigger threat to DC and Virginia residents, health experts said. There have been a total of 5,155 cases of the flu in Virginia this season with 773 deaths, while there have been no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, the state's department of health said.

Influenza-related illnesses last week climbed to nearly 22 million nationwide, and while the coronavirus threat is serious — more than 24,000 cases have been reported in China, where the virus originated — the odds of catching it in the United States are almost zero, according to Healthline.

With only 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., and none in the District of Columba or Virginia, the odds are the flu is a much more serious risk to your health.

Five people recently tested negative for the new coronavirus in Virginia, state health officials reported.

The District of Columbia Department of Health said that as of Feb. 1, 299 new cases of influenza were reported by hospital officials. There were no pediatric deaths were reported last week in DC.

For the 2019‐2020 influenza season to‐date, 2,225 confirmed influenza cases have been reported in the District.

"So far this season in the U.S. (there's been) a mortality rate from flu-like illnesses and pneumonia of around 7 percent," Dr. Charles Bailey, an infectious disease specialist with St. Joseph Hospital in Irvine, California, told Healthline.

"Clearly, if there's no panic concerning the current flu season — which is a fairly normal one — panic over (the) domestic 2019 coronavirus situation doesn't seem justified at present."

So far this season, 12,000 people in the U.S. have died due to flu-related illnesses and complications, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those deaths, 10 were children.

The CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 22 million illnesses, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from the flu.

Typically, the groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

• Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it's not too late to get this year's vaccine.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.