It’s Time to Add Style to Hygiene

An unusual early rise in flu cases on the West Coast has virologists working to understand the cause, Reuters reported. Typically, flu cases start in Southern states and move north. This year, it's coming from the west, and scientists haven’t determined the reason. In 2026, the predominant flu strain is H1N1, which caused the 2009 swine flu pandemic and is now a standard part of the flu shot. However, this year’s virus has a new mutation called G155E. Researchers believe people previously exposed to H1N1, either through infection or vaccination, would have only some residual protection from the older versions, Reuter said. In turn, doctors are urging Americans aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated against the flu, especially since many younger Americans haven't seen this year's H1N1 strain. The 2026-2027 flu vaccines, approved by the FDA in August, target H1N1 and H3N2—the dominant strain last flu season—and one influenza B virus, Reuters reported. While most children recover, flu can be deadly, especially for the very youngest and those with underlying health conditions. The vaccine's effectiveness fluctuates depending on how well it matches circulating flu strains months in advance. During the past 10 years, it has been between 30% and 60% effective in reducing flu hospitalizations and deaths, according to Reuters. Last year, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 32 million Americans had the flu, 390,000 were hospitalized and 24,000 died. Around half of US children got flu shots last year, compared with more than 60% in 2019-20, according to CDC data. Flu activity is low but has been rising since late August, CDC data showed. Clinical labs reported positive tests to the CDC last week, hitting a 10-year high for this time of year at 5%. On the West Coast, that figure was 10.7%, compared with 0.5% a year earlier. At peak flu, the rates are around 30%.

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It’s Time to Add Style to Hygiene

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