The long predicted Twindemic may be upon us with flu about to increase strains from Covid on our hospitals.  Strong and confirmed outbreaks of seasonal influenza being confirmed in San Diego, Rhode Island, El Paso and as below in Florida.  Get your flu vaccine now if you have not already!

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/11/05/flu-cases-spike-tallahassee-hospitals-famu-fsu-leon-florida-am-florida-state/6281152001/ - https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/11/05/flu-cases-spike-tallahassee-hospitals-famu-fsu-leon-florida-am-florida-state/6281152001/

'Overwhelmed': Influenza rampant at FSU and FAMU as experts point to flu vaccine hesitancy

'We are seeing a lot of cases of the flu,' a FAMU official said. 'I'm concerned'

Christopher Cann and Dejania Oliver

Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee higher education campuses and hospitals are seeing large numbers of students and others suffering from influenza.

Experts, many of which have warned about a severe flu season for months, say this is the result of a return to normalcy and lessening of safety precautions taken while COVID-19 numbers were at its highest. 

At Florida State University, the school's health center is full of sick students.

"Case numbers have skyrocketed and our University Health Center is overwhelmed with caring for ill students," said an internal email from FSU Provost Sally McRorie to faculty obtained by the Democrat.

More flu coverage, powered by USA TODAY:

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The email asks professors not to send students to the health center for a medical excuse for absences or delayed work – a request that was first introduced because of COVID-19. An FSU professor, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Democrat Wednesday he "had 40% of one class missing today."

Amy Magnuson, director of FSU’s Health Services, says they have over 20 new cases a day – a number that is steadily increasing, but is likely much less than the actual total.

Meantime, at FAMU there were 102 positive flu cases reported from the university's community site on Wednesday alone, according to FAMU Director of Health Services Tanya Tatum.

"We are seeing a lot of cases of the flu," Tatum said. "I'm concerned."

Beginning last week, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare had an influx of influenza patients that is "much higher than past years," said Dr. Nectar Aintablian, a pediatric infectious disease expert at TMH.  

Aintablian, similar to the university officials, urged people to get their flu vaccine to protect them from getting sick, especially those in high-risk categories. 

From 2018:Tallahassee hospitals grappling with worst flu season in 10 years

Athletics and long wait times at FSU

This year, the flu already seems to be back with a vengeance, affecting athletes while potentially spreading in classrooms and dorms. 

Several athletes across Florida State University's athletics program are, and have been, dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Maya Anderson, an FSU freshman, noticed a cough Monday and by the following day she was running a 102.4 fever and vomiting. She went to Patients First, a clinic, on Lake Ella and was able to walk-in and out in under an hour. 

"There's several people on my floor that are sick," she said about her Magnolia Hall dorm. "Most of my friends are sick."

The next day Anderson checked the website of the same clinic she sought care and was met with a 655 minute wait time – nearly 11 hours. 

A reporter called the university's health services line for appointment wait-times Thursday morning and found it was "at capacity" for the day. 

For those looking for a flu shot, the university recently started a mobile vaccine unit called Flu-ber that meets students wherever they are on campus.

On Health Services’ Twitter and Instagram, updates on Flu-Ber’s location are posted periodically. 

“It's important for everybody to get a flu shot, but especially anybody with underlying health conditions,” Magnuson said. 

“I think as far as prevention goes, face coverings or at least covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze can help prevent the spread of flu and of course COVID.”

Vaccine hesitancy at FAMU

The spike in flu infections on FAMU connects to an overarching problem that, according to Tatum, has been with the university for the last year — vaccine hesitancy. 

She linked this, like Aintablian, to a reduced immunity against influenza as cases plummeted to an all-time low last flu season. 

She also echoed warnings of a "twindemic," adding that the flu could also increase demand on healthcare facilities nationwide, which could cause an avalanche effect if another COVID wave arrives. 

More:Experts renew warnings of 'twindemic' as US enters flu season amid rising COVID-19 cases: 'We face the same threat this year'

I know the CDC flu report is a 'trailing indicator', but the report up to 30th October 2021 is still showing most States in the green as far as flu activity:- Two States at Moderate, and the rest at Low or Minimal.   

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ - https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

So I guess we will have to see how the flu situation develops this season.

[url]https://flunewseurope.org/[/url] or https://flunewseurope.org/ - https://flunewseurope.org/ ; For week 43/2021, of 39 countries and areas reporting on intensity of influenza activity, 31 reported baseline (across the region), 7 reported low (across the region) and 1 reported medium (Uzbekistan) intensity. Of 37 Member States and areas reporting on geographic spread, all reported no or sporadic activity, except one (Uzbekistan), which reported regional spread.

Also [url]https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/comment/pandemic-to-twindemic-2021-2022-flu-season/[/url] or https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/comment/pandemic-to-twindemic-2021-2022-flu-season/ - https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/comment/pandemic-to-twindemic-2021-2022-flu-season/ ; Unless there is a sufficient increase in vaccination coverage to compensate for waning natural population immunity, GlobalData epidemiologists expect there will likely be a surge in influenza infections and ILI this winter. In the advent of vaccine misinformation and anti-vaccination campaigns, this level of coverage may prove to be particularly challenging to achieve.

As both pathogens are circulating during the same season, people may be exposed to both influenza and COVID-19 simultaneously. COVID-19 and influenza co-infected patients are reported to have higher mortality rates and disease severity compared to patients with isolated infections. Therefore, the importance of a successful influenza vaccination campaign cannot be overemphasized in order to prevent the spread of influenza and COVID-19. Reduced severity of influenza illness from vaccination should lead to fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations, easing the strain on the US health care system. Finally, vaccination will reduce influenza symptoms that could be confused with COVID-19, allowing for a faster diagnosis and treatment of both infections.

DJ; Some of the problems;

-Discussion on vaccines do also lower the number of people taking (safe !!!) flu-vaccines...

-A flu/CoViD double infection will cause much more severe disease with healthcare allready overstretched by far...

-With new CoVid-variants likely also more evading testing it may become harder to get the correct diagnosis....

So in general we are getting into a worsening health crisis high speed ! Many countries will go for lockdown to keep basics going...