Last year's flu season was historically light. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported only 2,038 cases of flu between september 27, 2020, and april 24, 2021, in the United States, compared with 39 million people who got the flu the previous year.

In the U.S., the flu season can start as early as october, although it sometimes goes as late as january or february.

Similarly, this year the big question will not be when the flu season will start, but rather "what will it look like this year when COVID-19 is still dormant?

What kind of flu season do experts expect?

The flu season will not be as light as last year, says Kristin Englund, Ph, Infectious disease specialist. "Unfortunately, we're expecting to have a worse wave of flu this year."

The differences come given behavioral changes related to COVID-19. "Last year we had a lot of areas where facemasks were mandatory and where businesses were closed", Dr. Englund says. "People were heeding social isolation and hand hygiene.

In many places this looks different, she adds. "We're seeing a lot more people going out without a mask. As a result, even if they are protected from COVID by being vaccinated, they are not protected against influenza, unless they have the influenza vaccine."

To get an idea of how strong or mild this flu season will be, we can look at patterns in the Southern Hemisphere, Dr. Englund says. That's not very reliable this year, either. "It's going to be very different, because they've maintained a lot of their prevention strategies, whereas we've lost a lot of ours".

A complicated issue is that influenza and COVID-19 often have very similar symptoms. "Influenza can be deadly in its own way", says Dr. Englund. "It will be very difficult for people to understand whether they have COVID or influenza during this time, because more people will have symptoms".

How you can protect yourself

Influenza and COVID-19 can be very sickening. Influenza and coronavirus can spread in similar ways, so it's likely that wearing a mask, taking physical distance and other actions people take to prevent the spread of coronavirus can work with the flu.

Still, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Here's what you can do to be prepared for flu season:

1. Get vaccinated against influenza: Studies show that getting vaccinated reduces the risk of getting influenza in general and makes you less likely to get severely ill if you do get infected.

Dr. Englund says, "The flu vaccine not only protects you, but it protects everyone around you." The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated. "This year we are recommending that people get vaccinated from september through october so that we are, this way we are preparing for the start of the flu season", says Dr. Englund.

2. Wear a facemask: Even if you are vaccinated, whether against COVID or the flu, you should still wear a facemask in public. "I encourage you to wear a mask during respiratory illness season", says Dr. Englund. "There are many different viruses that can do harm, not just COVID".

3. Be vigilant with safety protections: As with COVID-19, the influenza virus is spread by particles coming out of a sick person's nose and mouth. So you can use many things you've done in the past to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as getting vaccinated, wearing a facemask in public, standing six feet away from other people, or washing your hands frequently, can also help you from being exposed to the flu virus. "I'm pretty august about wearing a mask and cleaning my hands, plus social distance when I'm out in public, even when I'm vaccinated against COVID and influenza", says Dr. Englund.

4. Know what to do if you get it: influenza and COVID-19 have many symptoms, call your doctor if you have symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath and muscle aches.They will know how to help you and whether you should be tested for COVID-19 or influenza.

5. Have a medicine cabinet ready: You can also prepare for the flu at home. Dr. Englund suggests having a few things on hand if something happens: acetaminophen to reduce fever, ibuprofen for muscle pain, cough medicine and a thermometer.

"These are over-the-counter medicines that you can use to improve symptoms", says Dr.Englund. "Purchase a cold and flu medicine that will help reduce any nasal congestion and coughing you may have." If you have a pre-existing condition that may put you at risk with a fever, it would be helpful to have a pulse oximeter at home, which measures the level of oxygen in your blood.

6. Stay home if you are sick and get tested for COVID-19: If you get the flu or COVID-19, you will want to stay home until you feel better to avoid spreading it to others. Likewise, because both viruses have similar symptoms, you will also need to get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible. "Take care of yourself", says Dr. Englund. "Make sure you get tested. Make sure you're going to stay off work and isolate yourself until you get tested and know what you're dealing with and the best way to treat it.

Winter is also perfect for other viral illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus or RSV (which commonly affects children) and norovirus (stomach virus). Many of the recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and influenza also apply to these viruses. Washing your hands with soap and water frequently, consistently disinfecting public areas, practicing proper coughing, and staying home when sick are good practices during the winter.

With the added element of COVID-19 still in play, these are very important. "I think we're going to feel very august about preventive techniques", Dr. Englund says. "Facemasks, for example, have become a routine part of our lives during this respiratory illness season. That's good, if we want to protect people and lower the death toll.

With these preventive measures we are not only protecting ourselves, we are protecting those around us.