Commonground
Senior Moderator
UVA launches its first public flu tracker ahead of peak season
Dec. 2, 2025
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - As the nation prepares for the worst of this year’s influenza season, the University of Virginia has launched its first public flu tracker.
The website, which is updated each Monday, provides a glimpse into how many students at UVA are testing positive for the virus.
The tracker comes as a new variant of flu strain called ‘subclade K,’ which is not included in this year’s vaccine, has been making the rounds, causing a spike in cases in Japan and the United Kingdom.
“Subclade K does seem to be causing an earlier and more significant wave of influenza in those countries than they’re accustomed to seeing,” said Doctor Michael Patrizio, the Associate Director for Acute Care at UVA Student Health and Wellness. “Encouragingly, though, there is some really early data out of the United Kingdom that seems to suggest that the flu vaccine, even though this strain has mutated from what’s included in the vaccine, that this year’s vaccine is likely providing some decent protection against the influenza.”
Patrizio says the best way to avoid getting the flu is still to get your vaccine, whether that’s through the typical injection method or through a nasal spray.
He added that UVA tends to see flu cases peak three times throughout the school year: once in late October/early November, again in January and February, and then in March.
https://www.29news.com/2025/12/02/uva-launches-its-first-public-flu-tracker-ahead-peak-season/
Dec. 2, 2025
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - As the nation prepares for the worst of this year’s influenza season, the University of Virginia has launched its first public flu tracker.
The website, which is updated each Monday, provides a glimpse into how many students at UVA are testing positive for the virus.
The tracker comes as a new variant of flu strain called ‘subclade K,’ which is not included in this year’s vaccine, has been making the rounds, causing a spike in cases in Japan and the United Kingdom.
“Subclade K does seem to be causing an earlier and more significant wave of influenza in those countries than they’re accustomed to seeing,” said Doctor Michael Patrizio, the Associate Director for Acute Care at UVA Student Health and Wellness. “Encouragingly, though, there is some really early data out of the United Kingdom that seems to suggest that the flu vaccine, even though this strain has mutated from what’s included in the vaccine, that this year’s vaccine is likely providing some decent protection against the influenza.”
Patrizio says the best way to avoid getting the flu is still to get your vaccine, whether that’s through the typical injection method or through a nasal spray.
He added that UVA tends to see flu cases peak three times throughout the school year: once in late October/early November, again in January and February, and then in March.
https://www.29news.com/2025/12/02/uva-launches-its-first-public-flu-tracker-ahead-peak-season/
