Flu spreading quickly across Birmingham metro area ahead of the holidays, doctors urge caution

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - ’Tis the season for family gatherings, packed calendars, and festive traditions — but also for sneezes, sniffles, and a fast-spreading flu that doctors say is already leaving its mark across the area.

Healthcare professionals in the Birmingham metro area are warning that flu cases are rising sharply just days before Christmas, threatening to sideline holiday plans and, in some cases, lead to serious complications.

Board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Kre Johnson says her office has seen a noticeable surge in flu A cases over the past several weeks. The symptoms, she says, are not always straightforward. A fever may spike, disappear and then return with intensity, often accompanied by chills and a sore throat.

It is unwelcome news at any time of year, but particularly difficult as families prepare to travel and gather.

Johnson says staying home when symptoms appear is critical, even if it means missing celebrations. The flu, she warns, can escalate quickly.

“We don’t think about we’re privileged in that. We’re not thinking about people going to the hospital. But in my training, I’ve been practicing for 13 years, I’ve seen people die from the flu. Now they’re sick people, they’re, you know, COPD asthma, but you don’t think of that the flu being something that will kill people. So you got to be mindful of others, even if you feel like you have a healthy, robust immune system.”

Adding to the challenge, Johnson says flu medications are becoming harder to find as pharmacies experience an influx of patients and supplies begin to run low.

Her advice for those who test positive or suspect they have the flu is to isolate for at least 24 hours, and up to two days to be safe. To reduce the risk of infection, she also recommends wearing a mask when appropriate and washing hands frequently.

As flu season intensifies, doctors say simple precautions could make the difference between a joyful holiday and one spent recovering at home — or worse.

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