The NewsWorthy
Special Edition: Quademic? This Year’s Sick Season Explained
Mar 1, 2025
Dr. Caitlin Jetelina, an epidemiologist and data scientist known for her accessible science newsletter, dives into the chaos of this year's flu season. She explains why we're seeing a surge in flu, RSV, and norovirus infections and stresses the importance of vaccinations despite their challenges. Dr. Jetelina also sheds light on the bird flu's impact, not just on human health but also on egg prices. With practical tips for staying healthy, she makes understanding this complicated sick season straightforward and engaging.
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Quick takeaways
- This year's flu season is exceptionally severe, influenced by lower vaccination rates and a less effective vaccine at only 35%.
- Amid the flu outbreak, other viruses like RSV and norovirus are also prevalent, necessitating strong hygiene practices to prevent infections.
Deep dives
Flu Season Challenges
This year is experiencing an unusually severe flu season, exacerbated by various factors including a decrease in vaccination rates and a less effective vaccine match. Only about 44% of children are vaccinated this year compared to 60% in 2019, leading to more cases of virus transmission. Additionally, the effectiveness of the current flu vaccine is only around 35%, which is significantly lower than the usual range of 50-60%. As such, health experts emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated, even now, as flu season is expected to extend into March, April, and potentially May.
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