Flu Season Hits Hard: What You Need to Know

Recent data shows an unprecedented surge in flu cases, with record-breaking hospitalizations and illnesses.

Key Statistics

• Highest rate of flu-like symptoms since 1997
• Symptoms include fever, cough, and sore throat
• 35% of visits are from people under 24 years old
• Children under 5 make up 20% of these visits

Hospitalizations and Illnesses

• 120,000 hospitalizations this season
• Nearly 50% increase from the previous week
• 11 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths so far

Hardest-Hit Areas

• New York reports the highest number of flu hospitalizations in a single week
• Over 72,000 infections in one week

The New Strain

• Subclade K, a type of H3N2 virus, is causing most cases
• Spreading since the summer in Canada, Japan, and the U.K.

Expert Warnings

• Flu season is not over yet
• Expect more cases in the coming weeks
• Other viruses like COVID-19 and RSV are also spreading

CDC Recommendations

• Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot
• Vaccine can prevent millions of illnesses and doctor visits
• Especially important for people at higher risk

Vaccination Rates

• Only 42% of adults and kids have received the flu vaccine as of December 13
• Last season, 289 children died from the flu, nearly all unvaccinated