Overview
- New York recorded 4,546 flu hospitalizations in the week ending Dec. 27, a 24% rise from the prior week and the highest single-week total since state tracking began.
- CDC estimates for the season now stand at about 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and roughly 3,100 deaths, with 19,053 new hospitalizations reported nationally for the week ending Dec. 20.
- CDC testing shows about 92% of recent U.S. flu samples are H3N2, and nearly 90% of those are the subclade K lineage tied to rapid increases seen in Japan, Canada and the U.K.
- Hospitals and emergency departments in states including Maryland, Massachusetts and Georgia report crowded ERs and rising admissions, with officials urging prompt antiviral use when indicated.
- Vaccination uptake remains suboptimal at around 42% by mid-December and about 130 million doses given, as authorities note multiple pediatric deaths this season and continue to push vaccination and basic precautions.