Despite reports that the flu vaccine year this year is far more effective than last year’s, new reports have indicated that the number of flu cases has more than doubles since the week of Feb. 7th.
According to the Louisiana Advocate, the flu season in the state had remained “mercifully quiet” up until earlier this month, when more than 1,000 new flu cases were reported in New Orleans alone. The data includes cases of both influenza Type A and Type B.
While the data was noticed and reported by Columbia University in New York, Louisiana doctors noted the increase as well. One physician in New Orleans reports that he has received 15-20 calls in the past two weeks alone, a stark contrast to the 1-2 calls he typically gets in this time of year.
Dr. Frank Welch, an influenza expert with the Louisiana state Department of Health and Hospitals, suspected this year’s flu season to begin a bit slower due to the warmer winter weather. Warm weather typically translates to less flu cases.
The sudden increase in flu cases might be the result of New Orleans’ recent Mardi Gras celebration.
“When you have a happening like Mardi Gras, you really have a lot of people in close contact with one another,” said Dr. Brobson Lutz, another New Orleans doctor. “When people are out hollering and coughing on each other, it’s really a perfect storm for influenza.”
Dr. Lutz recommends everybody to get a flu shot, as he believes that, every year, too few people do.