While January and February are usually heavy with strep, flu, and other winter illnesses, Influenza cases are down and for Advanced Practitioner Registered Nurse Wendy Dorworth of HSHS Medical Group, it is definitely noticeable this year. Flu cases are at an all time low with HSHS Medical Group clinics reporting less than 50 since the beginning of September. Dorworth says that it all starts with protection from COVID.

Dorworth says that it’s not just the flu that has dropped in severity.

Dorworth believes that masks will become a part of our normal life moving forward.

Dorworth says to keep up with handwashing and staying home when sick to keep the spread of illness at bay. Last winter HSHS reported over 700 cases of strep throat, this year it’s less than half of that. For more information visit https://www.hshsmedicalgroup.org/.