The 2011-12 Flu Season
Updated February 13, 2015.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Each fall, we start to hear recommendations about getting flu vaccines and how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the dreaded flu virus. Flu season is unpredictable and can start as early as October or as late as February or March. Everyone wants to know how bad it will be, whether the flu vaccine will protect them and what they can do to avoid getting sick.
Some of these questions are impossible to answer.
But researchers, public health officials and healthcare providers do their best to provide as much information as possible to keep us all healthy.
Symptoms for the 2011-12 flu season don't appear to be different than flu symptoms in other years. Most often they include:
Vomiting and diarrhea are not common flu symptoms, although they can occur occasionally. If vomiting and diarrhea are your primary symptoms, you may have gastroenteritis (also known as "the stomach flu"), rather than influenza.
Although the scientists do a lot of research to make these decisions, they are essentially making an educated guess. They sometimes get it wrong, since influenza viruses mutate so frequently. When the vaccine is not well matched to the viruses that are causing illness in the community, the vaccine will be less effective. However, this doesn't happen very often (a vaccine has not been well matched in only four of the last 21 years).
According to Dr. Joe Bresee, MD, FAAP, Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in CDC's Influenza Division, the current vaccine appears to be well matched to the strains of influenza causing illness during the 2011-12 season.
"If you look at the types of flu that circulate, all three types that we have isolated in the U.S. - and the world, actually - are well matched to the vaccine," said Dr. Bresee. "We think that the vaccine should do a good job protecting people this year. As far as how bad (the flu) will be, you just never know from year to year, so that's why we tell everyone to get vaccinated."
Of course getting the flu vaccine is not the only thing you can (or should) be doing to protect yourself from the flu. Everyday measures such as washing your hands and avoiding people who are sick are also important and will do a lot to keep you healthy.
Sometimes we get the flu anyway, despite our best attempts at prevention. If this happens to you, there are things you can do to help yourself feel better.
Consider Antiviral Medications
If you develop flu symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away. If you are diagnosed with influenza within 48 hours of the onset of your symptoms, taking antiviral medications could help shorten the severity and duration of your symptoms. They are only available by prescription, so your healthcare provider will need to see you to determine if they are right for you.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Cold and Flu Meds
Although they won't make the virus go away any faster, OTC cold and flu medications may help make the symptoms more bearable. Learn more about the many options out there and how to choose the ones that are right for you.
Your Flu Treatment Options
In addition to the options above, there are things you can do at home to help yourself feel better. Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are at the top of the list and are essential when you have the flu.
Sources:
"2011-2012 Influenza Season: Disease Activity". Seasonal Influenza (Flu) 12 Aug 11. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 Dec 11.
Interview with Dr. Joe Bresee, MD, FAAP, Chief of Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, CDC Influenza Division. 05 Dec 11.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Each fall, we start to hear recommendations about getting flu vaccines and how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the dreaded flu virus. Flu season is unpredictable and can start as early as October or as late as February or March. Everyone wants to know how bad it will be, whether the flu vaccine will protect them and what they can do to avoid getting sick.
Some of these questions are impossible to answer.
But researchers, public health officials and healthcare providers do their best to provide as much information as possible to keep us all healthy.
2011-12 Flu Season
As of mid-December 2011, we haven't seen a huge amount of influenza circulating in the United States. This is pretty typical of flu seasons in general. Although it can hit earlier, in the United States we don't normally see a lot of influenza until January or February. There is no way to know how badly the virus will affect people in a given year until flu season really peaks - which is typically in February or March.2011-12 Flu Symptoms
Symptoms for the 2011-12 flu season don't appear to be different than flu symptoms in other years. Most often they include:
- Fever
- Lethargy/exhaustion
- Cough
- Headache
- Body aches
- Congestion
Vomiting and diarrhea are not common flu symptoms, although they can occur occasionally. If vomiting and diarrhea are your primary symptoms, you may have gastroenteritis (also known as "the stomach flu"), rather than influenza.
Protecting Yourself from the 2011-12 Flu Virus
The best way to protect yourself from the flu virus every year is to get the flu vaccine. Many years of studies and research have proven that they are safe. Each spring, researchers try to determine which viral strains will most likely be circulating and causing illness during the following flu season. This information is very important because it helps produce effective vaccines.Although the scientists do a lot of research to make these decisions, they are essentially making an educated guess. They sometimes get it wrong, since influenza viruses mutate so frequently. When the vaccine is not well matched to the viruses that are causing illness in the community, the vaccine will be less effective. However, this doesn't happen very often (a vaccine has not been well matched in only four of the last 21 years).
According to Dr. Joe Bresee, MD, FAAP, Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in CDC's Influenza Division, the current vaccine appears to be well matched to the strains of influenza causing illness during the 2011-12 season.
"If you look at the types of flu that circulate, all three types that we have isolated in the U.S. - and the world, actually - are well matched to the vaccine," said Dr. Bresee. "We think that the vaccine should do a good job protecting people this year. As far as how bad (the flu) will be, you just never know from year to year, so that's why we tell everyone to get vaccinated."
Of course getting the flu vaccine is not the only thing you can (or should) be doing to protect yourself from the flu. Everyday measures such as washing your hands and avoiding people who are sick are also important and will do a lot to keep you healthy.
If You Get the Flu
Sometimes we get the flu anyway, despite our best attempts at prevention. If this happens to you, there are things you can do to help yourself feel better.
Consider Antiviral Medications
If you develop flu symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away. If you are diagnosed with influenza within 48 hours of the onset of your symptoms, taking antiviral medications could help shorten the severity and duration of your symptoms. They are only available by prescription, so your healthcare provider will need to see you to determine if they are right for you.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Cold and Flu Meds
Although they won't make the virus go away any faster, OTC cold and flu medications may help make the symptoms more bearable. Learn more about the many options out there and how to choose the ones that are right for you.
Your Flu Treatment Options
In addition to the options above, there are things you can do at home to help yourself feel better. Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are at the top of the list and are essential when you have the flu.
Sources:
"2011-2012 Influenza Season: Disease Activity". Seasonal Influenza (Flu) 12 Aug 11. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 Dec 11.
Interview with Dr. Joe Bresee, MD, FAAP, Chief of Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, CDC Influenza Division. 05 Dec 11.