Overview
- New York State reported 4,546 flu hospitalizations for the week ending Dec. 27, the highest single-week total on record and nearly 1,000 more than the prior week.
- Nationwide estimates this season have reached about 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths, with 19,053 hospitalizations reported in the week ending Dec. 20—roughly double the week before.
- CDC testing shows H3N2 now dominates U.S. flu samples, with nearly 90% of H3N2 specimens belonging to the emergent subclade K.
- Vaccination uptake remains low at roughly 42% as of mid-December, and experts note the shot may be a partial mismatch for subclade K yet still reduces the risk of severe outcomes.
- Hospitals and urgent cares in multiple states report heavy volumes; New York has required unvaccinated health care workers to mask, and clinicians stress starting antivirals within 48 hours for eligible patients.