More Americans Worry About Flu Than Coronavirus, Poll Says

BOSTON —A new poll shows that a wide share of Americans express more concern about catching the flu than about the new coronavirus. They are also moderately confident that U.S. health officials can handle emerging viruses like coronavirus, the poll says.

About four in 10 respondents said they are moderately worried about catching the flu, according to the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, compared with two in 10 concerned about catching coronavirus. Comparable shares of Americans — roughly two in 10 — say they are very worried about getting either coronavirus or the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 29 million flu-related illnesses in the United States this year, according to the center’s report for the week ending Feb. 15. That compares to just 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including one in Massachusetts.

Some 16,000 people have died of the flu this season, including 105 pediatric deaths, the CDC reports.

According to the latest data, flu activity is high in New York City, Puerto Rico and 44 states, including Massachusetts, where state health officials said such activity is now "very high."

The share of all medical visits attributed to influenza in the Bay State jumped sharply last week, to 6.27 percent, the highest rate in the last three flu seasons, the Department of Public Health reported.

The DPH does not track flu-related deaths among adults, but estimates that 250 to 1,100 state residents die annually from complications of influenza, a spokesman said. The state does count pediatric flu deaths, of which there has been one so far this season.

The flu is also hitting younger Americans especially hard. So far this season, the CDC has reported a total of 105 pediatric deaths. In January, reported pediatric deaths were more than double what they were last season.

Nationally, the percentage of virus specimens testing positive for influenza decreased from 30.3 percent for the week ending Feb. 8 to 29.6 percent for the latest week.

In addition to the 16,000 deaths, the CDC estimates there have been at least 29 million illnesses and 280,000 hospitalizations from the flu so far this season.

For comparison, the CDC reported a total of 26 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in its weekly report ending Feb. 8.

Typically, the groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

• Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it’s not too late to get this year’s vaccine.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.