Overview
- CDC estimates now top seven million illnesses with about 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths this season.
- A(H3N2) subclade K is the predominant strain in U.S. surveillance, aligning with faster transmission seen in recent weeks.
- New York reported roughly 71,000 lab‑confirmed cases in a single week, the highest since statewide mandatory reporting began in 2004.
- Infectious‑disease experts caution the nation may not have reached the peak, with post‑holiday travel and gatherings expected to fuel additional spread.
- Health authorities urge flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, prompt antivirals for high‑risk patients, and continued masking and hand hygiene in crowded indoor spaces.