With flu cases surging in Illinois as a new and mutated variant rapidly spreads, mitigating spread of those who contract the virus is increasingly important. But how long are you actually contagious with flu?
The answer could be longer than you think.
According to Dr. Mark Loafman, the chair of Family and Community Medicine at Cook County Health, those with flu should ideally stay home for up to 10 days.
“It’s about five to seven days from the symptom onset before you stop really shedding high levels of the virus. So 10 days is perfect, but it really doesn’t need to be that long,” Loafman said. “Again, we recommend wearing a mask around anybody who’s vulnerable or if you’re in a crowded place for that first seven days. And, you know, absolutely great hand washing hygiene so you’re not spreading the virus around. And if you can stay in, stay home.”
Those with flu are most contagious around three days into their infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some people, like young children and those with weakened immune systems, may be contagious for longer, however.
Flu can be detected in infected persons at least one day before symptoms begin, and up to seven days after. Loafman suggests using an at-home test if you suspect you might have flu so you can know how contagious you might be.
Flu levels in Illinois
Already at the start of January, cases in Illinois are at “very high” levels as a mutated and highly contagious variant known as “subclade K” takes hold.
The Illinois Department of Public Health and numerous health departments across Chicago-area counties have issued warnings as hospital admissions and positive tests for influenza soar in the state.
The bulk of hospital admissions and ER visits associated with respiratory illnesses were made because of flu symptoms, according to officials.
And experts warn “we haven’t peaked yet.”
“The question is, where will it peak?” Loafman said, adding that the current levels are “not unexpectedly high, but again, it could spread.”
“These are contagious viruses and people are indoors and we’ve had a lot of holiday travel and people together. So we would expect this spike would continue over the next few weeks,” he said.
Dr. Santina Wheat, a family physician with Northwestern Medicine, shared similar thoughts in an interview with NBC Chicago, explaining an uptick in cases might occur within the next week as children head back to school.
Illinois also on Monday reported its first influenza death in a child this season.
Symptoms changing with new variant
“Subclade K” has brought a change in telltale signs of the virus, experts said.
Among the most prominent is the level of fevers being reported, particularly in children.
“More fever with the flu this year than people are accustomed to. And the fever can last up to seven days, so five to seven days. And that’s worrisome,” Dr. Mark Loafman, the chair of Family and Community Medicine at Cook County Health, told NBC Chicago. “You feel ill, you feel sick, and you worry that you’re not getting better.”
What’s more, Dr. Juanita Mora, the national spokesperson for the American Lung Association, said in some cases, fevers aren’t responding to typical treatments like Tylenol or Motrin.
“This new strain has symptoms of really high fevers. It has a really bad cough that won’t go away, very phlegmy, and also vomiting and diarrhea and lots of joint aches as well as muscle aches,” Mora said.
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