Every flu season brings challenges, and this year appears especially concerning. Already, an estimated 11 million infections have been reported nationwide, with hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations.
"Influenza impacts everyone. You can be a super healthy person, do all the right things around eating and exercise, but you can still get influenza. It has to do with who you're exposed to and your immune response," said Dr. John Lynch, an infectious disease expert with UW Medicine.
Vaccination remains the most effective tool, with protection building about two weeks after receiving the shot. Infants 6 months and older, pregnant people, older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness. Masking, especially with high-quality masks like N95s, also helps reduce transmission, protecting individuals and the broader community.
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