SALT LAKE CITY — While the threat of coronavirus looms outside of Utah and even more heavily beyond domestic borders, Utah’s biggest immediate concern is influenza — which is also a very serious respiratory illness.
At least two teens in Utah have died from the flu in recent weeks, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thousands of flu cases have been reported statewide, and there have been 535 influenza-related hospitalizations. The majority of them are not senior citizens or people with chronic illnesses — they’re children.
“We have a higher percentage of kids being hospitalized this season,” said Keegan McCaffrey, influenza epidemiologist at the health department. The reason for that, he said, is because the predominant strain, influenza B, hits kids particularly hard.
“If your child is sick, keep them home from school until 24 hours after their fever resolves,” McCaffrey said. He also said the ongoing flu season has yet to peak and it isn’t too late to get vaccinated.
“Flu is a really serious disease,” he said. “Most people do recover, but it takes a big toll on families and the people who are hospitalized.”
Influenza, to date, remains more infectious and more deadly than the novel coronavirus strains that popped up recently in China, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It reports that more than 173 million doses of flu vaccine have been given out in the U.S. since October — and advises that it is not too late to be vaccinated.
Still, flu activity remains high or moderately high in nearly all 50 states, save Idaho, where it hasn’t yet hit very hard, according to the CDC.
Utah Department of Health numbers show influenza-like illnesses are still on the rise, with high severity and widespread activity reported throughout the state. The rate of confirmed illness jumped in the last week for which data is available. The trend is still largely following activity tracks of previous years, albeit climbing a little earlier than usual because influenza season started a little earlier than previous years, McCaffrey said.
“Risk really depends on exposure,” he said, adding that with the flu widespread in Utah, there have been no cases of coronavirus. “Right now, in Utah, people are at risk of being exposed to flu but not to coronavirus.”
Coronavirus, however, was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization on Thursday, mostly because it is so new, transmission is still very much unpredictable and the illness is not well understood. The ramped up classification legally requires states to step up their response to the crisis.
Utah health officials announced expanded vigilance earlier this week, as well as plans to keep Utahns abreast of any further developments. There are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Utah, though several people are under observation, the health department reported on Wednesday.
The number of infected people in China surpassed 8,100 on Thursday, which is more than were infected during the 2002-03 SARS outbreak that also began in China. The country reports 171 deaths related to coronavirus.
Also on Thursday, a sixth case and the first person-to-person transmission of the virus was announced in the U.S., in Chicago.
Other outbreaks that have reached emergency status with the WHO include the swine flu in 2009, polio and Ebola virus in 2014, Zika in 2016 and Ebola again in 2018-19. None of them infected nor killed nearly as many as influenza has and will, according to the CDC.
While the CDC considers coronavirus a “very serious public health threat,” it points to an even larger problem with the flu, which reaches epidemic proportions every year.
The agency reports an increase in positive respiratory specimens this week over last, as well as more people visiting the doctor for influenza-like illnesses and symptoms — all typical for this time of year.
The CDC estimates that 19 million to 26 million people have been sick with the flu since Oct. 1. And while influenza-related deaths are often underreported, the CDC believes up to 20,000 Americans will die with the flu this year.
McCaffrey said it is the third year of the last six where influenza has been severe in Utah, but the predominant strain hasn’t been influenza B, thus infecting as many kids, since 1992.
“Were in the middle of flu season now,” McCaffrey said. “A flu shot is still going to protect you.”
In addition to the flu vaccine, the health department recommends avoiding exposure to sick people as much as possible, as well as proper hand-washing technique, calling the doctor if illness arises and staying home from work or school.
For more information on influenza and this season’s activity, visit health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/influenza.