You really don’t want to catch this flu

This is one of those stories that shouldn’t go on the front page because it will have low interest among the general public.

“A flu story? Snore.” Then you catch it and pass the virus on to your parent, grandparent, with pre-existing health problems, and they end up in the hospital with severe respiratory problems. Then, people start to wish they had done things differently as the blame game starts to go around.

Do what differently? Who knows. Stay away from large crowds? Wear a mask when you’re around other people, out at the store? Get a vaccine if you haven’t already gotten one? Isolate yourself like you did during Covid? Mitigate risk based on age and health?

To make this story even more complex, in terms of what to do to protect yourself against it as well as the ones you love, the flu going around this season still infects more than 60 percent of people who have been vaccinated against it.

If one catches it, the risk of a heart attack or stroke can increase by multiples of two or three for weeks after the patient recovers. (Source: Mayo Clinic.)

Definitely a “nasty bug.” A study published in January 2026 found that for adults aged 60 and older, vaccine effectiveness against H3N2 (the dominant flu variant this season) dropped to 25.3 percent, meaning the virus effectively “bypasses” approximately 74.7 percent of those vaccinated in that age group.

Some Nasty Effects

All of which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get the vaccine, according to Dr. Ivan Melendez, who works as both an internal medicine physician and the Hidalgo County Health Authority, which is in charge of events related to public health and communicable diseases.

Typically, the flu vaccine is given in September or October so it has time to build up the body’s immune system and for full immunity to develop.

Getting a vaccine shot now still makes sense, according to Dr. Menendez, because this year’s flu season may well last past its normal peak time frame — some time in February.

With this flu virus, many health experts are saying “early March” in terms of its peak ability to send people to the hospital.

As of this week, in Texas, the number of hospitalizations is still on the rise, and Texas is rated as having a “Very High” level for the flu. (Source: CDC.)

When the state’s level goes back to “Moderate,” people can relax, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, seniors, the young.

Like any illness, the young and those over the age of 65 are the most vulnerable.

Any protection, like the vaccine still being offered at multiple locations, is better than none unless one has the ability to stay isolated. Always wear a mask when around others? Order curbside delivery instead of actually walking into a store.

You can find vaccination sites or low-cost options through the Sanofi Flu Shot Finder or local pharmacies.

‘He Looked Healthy’

One big problem with this year’s flu virus is that people can be contagious two days before showing any symptoms (asymptomatic). Meanwhile, they are carrying a hefty viral load, because this virus replicates far quicker than most, while talking to people face to face.

Two days later, you’re paying the price of letting down your guard.

Most people won’t mask, however, or won’t get vaccinated, and end up sick.

If that happens, they need to seek medical help sooner rather than later, say all legit physicians. There are now anti-viral drugs available that will mitigate the patient’s chances of ending up in the ICU; and with this virus, things can quickly go south in hours, from a normal temp to 103 in a matter of hours.

This virus also has a nasty habit of invading the deep lung tissue, rather than staying put in the upper respiratory tract, which can cause all sorts of problems, pneumonia, none of them good.

Then there is the organ most near and dear to our hearts – our heart.

With this year’s flu virus, cardiologists have issued a warning, highlighting the potential for serious heart complications even after recovery from the infection.

A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that the flu can significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in the weeks following infection. Dr. Konstantin German, a non-invasive cardiologist at TriHealth, said, “You know the issue with the flu is that it creates a lot of stress on your entire body, and the heart is part of that.” (Source: Yahoo.com.)

The study found that individuals are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack and five times more likely to have a stroke in the month following a flu infection.

Dr. German explained, “It’s really the way that the virus triggers your immune system, where essentially the virus goes in, your immune system sees an enemy and responds, and that response can get you in trouble with high fevers, fast heart rates, and rapid breathing.”

None of it good.