Flu activity in the US has reached a 25-year high, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting the highest rate of flu-like illnesses on record. According to the CDC, about 8% of outpatient visits to healthcare providers were labeled as flu-like illnesses, surpassing any levels seen since 1997. This season's cases are largely linked to a new flu strain called subclade K, a variant of the H3N2 virus.
The CDC estimates that there have been at least 120,000 hospitalizations so far this season, a 48.1% increase from the prior week. Additionally, the CDC reports at least 11 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths due to flu, including at least nine pediatric deaths. New York recently reported the highest number of flu hospitalizations recorded in a single week, with 72,133 infections for the week ending December 20.
Experts expect flu-like illnesses to continue to climb in the coming weeks. The CDC data shows that nearly all flu samples tested since September 30 were influenza A, with roughly 90% being H3N2. As the flu season continues, health officials are closely monitoring the situation and urging people to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.