Influenza A in Utah

Highly Contagious Virus Hitting Hard In Utah & Nevada!

Published: February 10, 2025

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If you've been feeling a little weird or under the weather lately, you're totally not alone. There's been a handful of viruses sweeping across the nation from Whooping Cough, Strep Throat, Walking Pneumonia and RSV. However, The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has revealed that one virus has reached it's highest levels right now!

What virus has been rearing it's ugly head? Influenza A. That's right, Influenza A or The Flu has been punishing people all over Utah and Nevada. So now, instead of dodging your kids coughs, there's another viral villain ready to mess you up for a week!

What’s Going On?

Health officials all across the US have been keeping their on on flu cases, and they've seen a sharp increase. We're not just talking about sniffles and sneezes either. Influenza A has gone from "medium" to "high" activity levels in just the past couple of weeks. Winter is in full swing right now, and people are spending more times indoors, which is basically a VIP pass for germs to spread like wildfire!

Flu Symptoms:

We're about to reach the time of the year when we're not sure if we're dealing with allergies, a cold, or this lovely strain of flu. Here's to watch out for:

• Fever (or those weird chills where you feel like you’re freezing but sweating at the same time)

• Cough that won’t quit

• Sore throat that makes swallowing feel like a medieval torture method

• Runny or stuffy nose (pick your poison)

• Muscle and body aches that make you feel like a bus ran you over

• Headaches that you can feel the throb

• Exhaustion (Even walking up your stairs feels like you've ran a marathon)

What Can You Do?

Flu season is going to be here for a while... through May! So no, it's not too late to protect yourself. Here are the best ways to survive this nightmare called Influenza A:

• Wash your hands like you’re a surgeon. Germs are everywhere.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes (we learned this in pre-school).

• Stay home if you’re sick—your coworkers will thank you!

Why Utah and Nevada?

Both states are seeing big spikes in cases, and big cities like Salt Lake City and Las Vegas being major travel hubs (especially with Sundance Film Festival going on.) These germs are hitching rides faster than tourists on the Vegas Strip! Then, throw in colder weather keeping people indoors, it's a perfect storm for Influenza A to live their best life!

So, if you haven’t caught it yet—congratulations, you’re one of the lucky ones! But if you’re already in the thick o

f it, stock up on soup, grab a cozy blanket, and prepare for a week of regret and Netflix marathons.

Stay safe, Utah and Nevada!