Overview
- The CDC estimates at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths so far this season, with elevated activity expected to persist for several weeks.
- Influenza A(H3N2) dominates, and more than 90% of genetically analyzed H3N2 samples are the newer subclade K that differs from this year’s vaccine strain, though shots still help prevent severe disease.
- Hospitals admitted about 33,301 influenza patients in the week ended Dec. 27, and 8.2% of healthcare visits were for respiratory illness, both rising from prior weeks.
- Flu is widespread nationally: 45 states reported high or very high activity during the week of Christmas, and 30 states were at very high levels by Dec. 27 as test positivity reached roughly one-third.
- Nine pediatric deaths have been reported nationwide this season, and Massachusetts confirmed its first child death as Georgia climbed to the highest tier of very high activity with increased deaths and hospitalizations.