How to brace for flu season in Maine
By Virginia Templet
Flu season is here — not this winter, now. As Maine students go back to school, a spike in infectious disease is inevitable, whether it’s influenza, COVID, or even H5N1 bird flu converging to make us less healthy.
This is not just theoretical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been at least 35 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths from flu thus far this season — and it’s not even autumn yet. Flu vaccine shipments are now ramping up, despite the fact that vaccination among many Americans has fallen in recent years. We have seen increased demand in a flu response firsthand, with countless healthcare professionals stocking up on swabs for the influenza season.
Vigilance is required across all fronts. First and foremost, the general public needs to understand that the flu is far from a minor ailment. It poses a considerable threat to the immune system, and influenza is constantly evolving. Each year, the flu virus mutates, making it challenging to predict and control. While most flu cases result in mild to moderate symptoms — such as fever or fatigue — that go away quickly, influenza’s impact can be devastating for many.
Vulnerable populations must be extra vigilant. The very young and the elderly are especially at risk of more serious symptoms, in addition to pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. The same goes for children in school and their parents, who must grapple with high transmission rates.
On an individual basis, if we can take the flu more seriously, we can avoid a particularly devastating flu season. Apathy will only result in more pain and suffering.
And that is just one component of vigilance. Beyond the public, it is crucial for clinics, hospitals and diagnostic labs around the world to keep in stock the highest quality specimen-collection products. The strongest defense against the flu is a strong offense: As healthcare professionals know, the best way to stop the flu is with fast diagnosis and immediate treatment.
There are a number of methods for diagnosing the influenza virus, most notably swabbing. Learning the proper way to swab for the flu is crucial. High-quality products like swabs and test kits help in identifying and reducing the potential spread of influenza.
Point-of-care tests are particularly effective. They can provide results in as little as 15 minutes, allowing the treatment process to unfold more quickly. In addition to the rapid turnaround time, POCTs bring other advantages. In the past, diagnosis required sophisticated laboratory equipment and highly skilled staff, but POCT specimens can now be collected using a nasopharyngeal swab (throat swab), so conventional lab facilities are no longer necessary. Because smaller sample sizes and fewer reagents are needed, the tests can be performed in doctor’s offices, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments. No special training for quality assurance and control is necessary, resulting in greater diagnostic access.
As the flu virus evolves with each passing year, we must also evolve in response. Considering the grave threat that the flu poses to more vulnerable populations, point-of-care testing seems more and more like the practical choice for flu diagnosis. It is not the only solution to the flu problem, as vaccination remains a critical component of vigilance, but more effective and efficient testing leads to stronger, life-saving treatment.
It is time to brace for influenza season — today, not tomorrow. The medical industry is certainly taking it seriously, and that should be a cue for all Americans. Only a vigilant population will mitigate the flu threat as cases spike around us.
Templet serves as marketing director at Puritan Medical Products.