In time for the holidays Flu surges in Louisiana as health department barred from promoting flu shots Flu is rising around the country, but Louisiana is well ahead of the curve. Beth Mole Dec 23, 2024 12:35 pm | 37 A masked person stands by a sign advertising flu shots. Credit: Getty | Noam Galai A masked person stands by a sign advertising flu shots. Credit: Getty | Noam Galai Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreFlu season is ramping up across the US, but Louisianathe state that has reportedly barred its health department from promoting flu shots, as well as COVID-19 and mpox vaccinesis leading the country with an early and strong surge.Louisiana's flu activity has reached the "Very High" category set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the latest data. The 13-category scale is based on the percentage of doctor's visits that were for influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in the previous week. Louisiana is at the first of three "Very High" levels. Oregon is the only other state to have reached this level. The rest of the country spans the scale, with 13 jurisdictions at "High," including New York City and Washington, DC. There are 11 at "Moderate," 10 at "Low," and 19 at "Minimal." Map of ILI activity by state Credit: CDC Last week, NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO reported that the state had forbidden the health department and its workers from promoting annual flu shots, as well as vaccines for COVID-19 and mpox. The policy was explicitly kept quiet and officials have avoided putting it in writing.In a response to Ars Technica, health department spokesperson Emma Herrock did not deny the claim or dispute any of the outlets' reporting. Instead, Herrock provided a statement confirming that the department's policy had shifted, specifically, it moved "away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance" and to the stance that "immunization for any vaccine ... are an individuals personal choice." Discussions and decisions about vaccines should be between an individual and their health provider, the statement read.The statement seemed to offer an assurance that other vaccines were not subject to the new restrictions. "Changes regarding seasonal vaccines like COVID and influenza do not change the Departments policy or messaging regarding childhood immunizations," it read.This flu season, the health department has reportedly canceled standard vaccination events and clinics. On social media, the department has avoided mentioning flu shots in posts about the flu, instead advising people to wash their hands and cover their coughs.While Louisiana is seeing an early surge in influenza, the rest of the country is on an upward trend in what appears to be a normal-looking season so far. Nationally, the percentage of doctor visits that were for ILIs is 3.8 percent, with the upswing in ILI activity similar to what was seen in the 20192020 flu season at this point in the year. At the peak of flu seasons, the percentage of visits for ILIs usually tops out around 7 percent to 8 percent. US ILI activity charted by week across several flu seasons Credit: CDC Two children died last week of flu, bringing the season's total pediatric deaths to four. In the 20232024 season, 206 children died with influenza-associated disease. Most of the deaths occurred in early 2024.COVID-19 is also ramping up a winter wave. While standard disease burden indicatorshospitalization and deathsare low, they're trending positive. Wastewater surveillance, meanwhile, is showing a steep incline, with levels of the virus being detected at "moderate" levels.Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 37 Comments