Overview
- Ohio and Kentucky reported their first pediatric flu deaths of the season, including an Ohio teenager from Greene County and a Kenton County child who was not vaccinated.
- The nationwide pediatric flu death toll has reached nine, according to newly reported state announcements.
- The CDC estimates about 7.5 million illnesses, more than 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths so far this season, with weekly hospitalizations nearly doubling in mid-December.
- Colorado logged a record 782 flu hospitalizations for the week ending December 27 as H3N2 dominates cases linked to severe disease.
- Ohio health officials reported 722 flu-related hospitalizations for the week ending December 20 and 7,381 cumulative respiratory hospitalizations since July 1.