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Original poster

Huge surge of flu cases?

43 replies

Tulipsandpansies123 · 15/01/2024 22:39

My place of work- a school- has nearly half the staff off and maybe a third of the children off. Is the general consensus that the flu jab has worked or been accurate this year? It seems like a harsh strain..

I had flu jab in October and now am really quite unwell with what I think is flu. Covid test negative. Coughing, chesty, achy for 3/4 days now

OP posts:
NotTerfNorCis · 15/01/2024 22:41

I know someone at work who had severe flu or pneumonia and took about three weeks to recover. He came down with it on Boxing Day.

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 15/01/2024 22:44

That sounds bad 👎

OP posts:
Ibizafun · 15/01/2024 22:45

Me too.. had the flu jab but got it worse than ever.

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General health
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 15/01/2024 22:46

Dh had it before Christmas and it’s still hanging around.
DS had it at New Year and it’s still there

Velvian · 15/01/2024 22:48

DS age 10 was ill for about 3 weeks over Christmas, the most ill he's ever been. He's had the flu vaccine. Me and DH also ill for 2.5 weeks, but no flu jabs

Tel12 · 15/01/2024 22:48

I've at least 3 friends who have had several lots of antibiotics for chest infections etc.so I have been thinking the same thing. So many people seem to be unwell for quite a long period of time. Maybe our immune systems are low? Vitamin D is recommended but it's not a quick fix, more a long term boost for the immune system, as far as I can understand. Hope you are better soon.

Dartmoorcheffy · 15/01/2024 22:51

It's normal for the time of year

Grumblebees · 15/01/2024 23:05

I was ill all last week with a raging temperature, horrific night sweats/rigours, fatigue and a cough. My temperature is still spiking randomly and I'm coughing so much I'm almost making myself sick. COVID test was negative. I had the flu jab in September (only one in my family to, due to medical condition but interestingly nobody else has caught it from me... Yet!)

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 15/01/2024 23:10

Thank you all. Sounds like the flu jab wasn't as accurate as hoped then. 🤧

OP posts:
Heather37231 · 15/01/2024 23:11

Almost identical to you @Grumblebees , even down to being the only one in family who had jab and none of them having caught it!

My temp never officially turned into a fever but I had chills and sweats alternating for days on end. It came on quite suddenly. Will be day 10 tomorrow and today was first day I did not spend at least part of in bed, but am still coughing enough to make myself gag. It’s been brutal.

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 15/01/2024 23:12

Sounds awful. I too have been coughing enough to gag. It's a nightmare.

OP posts:
sh0rtbread · 15/01/2024 23:12

I came down with something on the 28th and only went back to work today. It was the worst I’ve ever had it.

justasking111 · 15/01/2024 23:15

Sorry to hear that you've all been so poorly. 😒

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 15/01/2024 23:19

Sh0rtbread, that sounds really bad

OP posts:
IHS · 15/01/2024 23:24

Me and dh are older but couldn't access a flu or covid jab and we're both ill with either flu or covid right now. Haven't felt this bad since having flu in 2000. Some friends of ours are ill as well. I usually get a flu jab, but none available this year.

Mufflepuff · 15/01/2024 23:26

I've heard a theory that Covid is affecting our immune systems so now when we get other viruses we can't fight them off as effectively. No idea if it's true or not but certainly interesting theory.

IHS · 15/01/2024 23:29

Mufflepuff · 15/01/2024 23:26

I've heard a theory that Covid is affecting our immune systems so now when we get other viruses we can't fight them off as effectively. No idea if it's true or not but certainly interesting theory.

Sounds interesting.

People that I know - including younger adults - have been coming down with viruses a lot since November.

Thelnebriati · 15/01/2024 23:43

DS (adult, lives at home) had that terrible flu followed by a chest infection; I didn't. He was so ill the GP saw him to check him for pneumonia.
I had the flu vaccine, but he didn't.

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 16/01/2024 08:22

IHS · 15/01/2024 23:29

Sounds interesting.

People that I know - including younger adults - have been coming down with viruses a lot since November.

Show quote history

Yes, definitely an interesting theory. I hope it's being looked into.

Gosh I feel rough today

OP posts:
ShitInAPyrexDish · 16/01/2024 08:57

I have been so ill since Friday. I also had the flu jab back in September. I've had a temperature, sore throat, aches and a cough that keeps me up all night. I haven't actually tested for covid as I haven't left the house since Friday, I'm feeling far too rough to.

Original poster
Tulipsandpansies123 · 16/01/2024 13:10

Our school has had to contact public health to get advice as there's so many off

OP posts:
UnmentionedElephantDildo · 16/01/2024 13:23

There's an increase, but not a surge (NOIDS report says just over 4000 in latest week recorded, showing slow steady increase over last month)

Covid figures are twice as high (well over 8000)

Given that only a low proportion of the symptomatic are tested, I think it's pretty clear there are lots of both about, but given the greater prevalence of covid then if you're ill chances are that's what you've got.

The "coming down with lots of viruses" - this is, catching things that bit more readily and then being that bit more ill with them - is a sign that your immune system is dampened down a bit. Covid is really good at producing that effect, and it can last months if not years (yes, other viruses can do this but typically not as seriously or for as long as covid)

IHS · 16/01/2024 13:47

I'm struggling to recover now. Heart racing, weak, tired, whole body feels like it's vibrating, hot then cold sweats. Awful.

Angrymum22 · 16/01/2024 14:00

I suspect that the link with Covid vax/infection has more to do with 2yrs of lockdowns and careful hand hygiene practices. People have gone back to their old habits so more likely to pick up and spread viruses. Continual exposure to viruses improves our immune response. Our immune systems have been under utilised for a few years so it is normal to come down with more severe forms of colds and flu.
Additionally, they don’t always get the flu vacc spot on so we end up with an epidemic.
It’s all normal but after a pandemic we’ve forgotten what normal is.

gamerchick · 16/01/2024 14:04

Mufflepuff · 15/01/2024 23:26

I've heard a theory that Covid is affecting our immune systems so now when we get other viruses we can't fight them off as effectively. No idea if it's true or not but certainly interesting theory.

I was wondering the same thing recently. Garden variety lurgies taking over 5 weeks to bugger off. It never used to be like that.

I'm assuming they got it wrong about the strains of flu this year, it happens.