Flu may be coming back with a vengeance, experts say, and children could be at risk - USA TODAY

Data from the Southern Hemisphere, which is in its flu season, show cases surpassing pre-pandemic levels, prompting health experts to worry about what’s in store for Americans this year.

Health experts point to data in Australia, where flu season runs from May through September, to get a sense of what’s possible for Americans.

By mid-July last year, only about 400 cases were reported.

“Flu cases increased at a very high rate and ended up being at the highest rate that they’ve seen in I’m not sure how long,” said Andy Pekosz, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Experts say this may be due to increased transmission or because flu season began earlier this year, with cases gaining momentum in April.

Health experts say the flu vaccine is especially important this year, and recommend Americans consider getting it sooner than usual, as the Australia data suggests the season may start earlier.

Although vaccines are available, health experts warn against getting vaccinated too early as vaccine-induced immunity may wane later in the season

It’s too soon to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness in the Southern Hemisphere, but experts say the strains circulating in Australia appear to match strains announced by the World Health Organization this year