In brief
Flu activity in the U.S. has surged significantly over the holiday period, with health officials warning of a severe season ahead. A new variant of the H3N2 flu has been the most frequently reported this season, and over 90% of cases analyzed have shown a mismatch with the current vaccine. Last year's flu season saw a record number of pediatric deaths, raising concerns for this year's trends. The CDC urges everyone aged six months and older to get vaccinated to mitigate impacts as the season is expected to peak in the coming months.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, prompting health officials to label this flu season as severe, with expectations that conditions may worsen. Recent government data indicated that, by Christmas week, flu activity had escalated to levels surpassing last winter's harsh epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted alarming increases, as 45 states reported either high or very high flu activity, an increase from 30 states the prior week.The escalation is attributed to a flu virus variant categorized as A H3N2, which historically has been linked to higher hospitalization and death rates, particularly among older populations. Disturbingly, over 90% of analyzed H3N2 infections have been identified as a newly emergent subclade K variant, which does not align with this season's flu vaccine strains. This mismatch raises significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of vaccination efforts this season.Typically, flu seasons peak between January and February, making predictions about the scale of this year's challenges difficult. Public health officials recall that the last flu season achieved the highest hospitalization rate since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, with 288 child fatalities recorded, highlighting the urgency for protective measures.Through the current season, the CDC estimates that at least 11 million influenza illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths have already occurred. They are strongly advising that everyone aged six months and above who has yet to be vaccinated should receive the influenza vaccine as soon as possible to mitigate potential impacts as the flu season progresses.
