Louisiana continues to show up near the top of the CDC’s influenza activity map but according to infectious disease specialist Dr. MarkAlain Déry, the data tells a more complicated story.
While the map might suggest the state is unusually sick, he says several factors inflate those rankings without necessarily meaning emergency rooms are overwhelmed.
“People in Louisiana go to the doctor when they’re sick so the numbers reflect that.”
Still, he says there is something real happening beneath the data.
“Besides the care-seeking behavior, the actual infection rate is a little alarming,” Déry says.
What concerns physicians most this year is not just how many Louisianans are showing symptoms, but the strain of flu that emerged after this year’s vaccine was formulated.
“We’re expecting a very hard flu season,” Déry says.
“Not because of the current infection rate alone, but because this new strain can make you feel very sick.”
He emphasizes that the current vaccine does offer protection, even if it’s not a perfect match.
“It’s still somewhat effective in helping people not get as sick,” he notes.
Despite the challenges of the new strain, Déry stresses that the flu shot remains essential.
“Think of vaccines like a seatbelt,” he says. “They won’t stop you from getting into a car wreck, but they’ll mitigate injury and save lives if you do.”
With a potentially severe flu season on the horizon, Déry says vaccination, early treatment, and staying home when sick remain the strongest tools available to protect families and the community.