Watch Out: Current Flu Season Worse Than Usual

This year’s flu is a doozie. The familiar H3N2 influenza virus apparently acquired seven new mutations since the summer and that variant, called Subclade K, is making the rounds. Australia reports the worst flu season in years. Canada and the U.K. have been reporting hospitalizations, even though it is considered early in the season. Officials are worried because this strain is not included in the flu vaccines prepared for this season. 

The mainstream press is bemoaning staff cuts at the CDC; the full complement of people who normally work with this type of data simply isn’t there so metrics for the United States are scarce. But lots and lots of people have it and can tell you it is indeed “special.” As one of my patients put it: “My head is pounding so I can’t get any work done because I can’t think clearly. My nose is running. I’ve pretty much slept for three days. I am weirdly fatigued; can’t stand upright for more than 5-10 minutes.” One of my neighbors and a trainer at the gym say “everybody is sick.” 

The holidays are especially efficient transmitters of viral infections. Many people tend to gather in indoor spaces – that’s the super spreader part as we used to say during COVID. But there is also the sugar part that puts a target on your back for the flu virus. Sugar is in many holiday dishes, and it does a number on the immune system. Studies show that 25 grams of sugar suppress the immune system up to 90% for up to 5 hours or longer. One slice of pecan pie typically has about 31 grams of sugar. But before you got to that slice of pie, you probably ingested sugar in sauces, a glass or two of wine, the starchy carbohydrates…