Every winter, the flu makes its predictable rounds, but this season, New Yorkers seem to be getting hit harder than expected. Hallways are quieter, classrooms emptier, and the chatter of, “I think I’m getting sick,” echoes across the city. H3N2, a new flu variant, is spreading through New York, and while public health experts have seen this pattern before, the question lingers: Are we taking it seriously enough?
“This year’s variants–yes, there’s more than one–seem to be spreading throughout the NYC area pretty significantly,” said Mr. Lovrich, one of Fort’s AP Biology teachers. “My own observations seem to support that its virality is higher than [those of] the last few influenza strains.”
In other words, this flu seems to jump from person to person more quickly than usual. For a city packed with commuters and crowded classrooms, that’s a troubling thought. But does higher transmission mean a worse illness?
“It does seem like this year’s influenza season causes more severe symptoms,” Mr. Lovrich said. “Many people confuse the common cold with influenza, which is a mistake, as influenza is much more severe–it lasts longer and can be much more dangerous.”
The problem, though, isn’t just the virus itself. It’s how casually we often treat it. If you’ve pushed through class with a fever, thinking, I’ll just deal with it, you’re not alone, and likely part of how this keeps spreading.
Of course, part of the issue is the density of the city itself. “Because of the amount of students at Fort, the flu is easily transmitted,” one student told The Pilot. “You may unknowingly catch something contagious and spread it to your classmates, so stay home once you start feeling sick.”
“The more areas that are crowded, lack air filtration, and have low humidity, the easier it is for a virus to spread,” Mr. Lovrich said. “Each new infection brings a chance for a new variant, but a new variant doesn’t always mean a more dangerous one. There may be mutated versions, some less severe, others more contagious, and some even more deadly.” Still, in an environment where hardly anyone wants to stay home or wear a mask anymore, those “low odds” start to add up.
When it comes to protection, opinions are as varied as the virus itself. Some rely on yearly flu shots, others on strong immune systems and preventative habits.
“Just like training for a game or studying for a test, preparation increases your chances of success,” Mr. Lovrich said. “But at the end of the day, every person’s body and health decisions are their own.”
Mr. Lovrich emphasized that medical choices should come from trustworthy, licensed professionals and not from social media threads. What matters most, he suggested, is being informed and intentional about your health, however you choose to protect it.
The balance between science and personal responsibility matters now more than ever. After all, even with new vaccine technologies advancing, there’s no guarantee we’ll ever have a permanent fix.
“Influence, COVID and any other viruses that are made up genetically with RNA lack the genetic proofreading enzymes that slow down the creation of variants,” Mr. Lovrich said. Every time we make a new vaccine for influenza, the virus quickly mutates into a different strain.”
In simpler terms, these viruses change so rapidly that scientists are always playing catch-up. Researchers are working hard to keep pace, but no scientific breakthrough can replace simple, consistent care in everyday life.
So what can students actually do to protect themselves in the meantime?
“Wash your hands,” Mr. Lovrich advised. “Stay home as soon as you start feeling unwell. [Eat real food], aim for eight hours of sleep a night, and eat some fruits and veggies. Keep your body healthy, don’t ignore symptoms.”
It’s advice we’ve all heard a hundred times, but rarely follow until we’re already sick. Maybe the better question isn’t whether the flu is worse than the last one, but whether we’re finally ready to take our own health a little more seriously.
