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The flu season poses unique challenge to the COVID fight

A woman looks at the few selections remaining in the the cold and flu aisle of a Walmart near Warrendale, Pa., Friday, March 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

 Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

A woman looks at the few selections remaining in the the cold and flu aisle of a Walmart near Warrendale, Pa., Friday, March 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Airdate: Wednesday, September 23, 2021

The flu virus is around all year, but is most common in the United States during the fall and winter months.

The severity and duration of the flu season varies based on different factors, to include the viral strain of the dominant virus. In the fall of 2020, health officials tracking the flu noticed lower than normal numbers and attributed this to pandemic mitigation efforts used to curtail COVID.

No one knows what the 2021 flu season will bring, but officials are watching as activity usually begins to increase in October, with peaks appearing between December and February.

Dr. John Goldman, MD, is an Infectious Disease Specialist UPMC and he will join Smart Talk Wednesday to talk about the flu season and what lies ahead.

For more on COVID-19 and the flu plus a deeper look at the changing tide of healthcare–check out WITF’s Transforming Health. Online at Transforming Health.org. A partnership of WITF, WellSpan Health and Capital Blue Cross.

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