Flu season in the United States has reached its most intense level in at least 15 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reported that doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms were higher than any winter flu season since 2009-2010.
While COVID-19 appears to be declining, RSV is fading nationwide. Schools have shut down in some states due to high flu cases. The CDC estimates at least 24 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths this season.
Flu activity was most intense in the South, Southwest, and western states. However, experts note that while there is a lot of flu, RSV and COVID-19 are also present. Health officials recommend annual flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months old, but vaccination rates are low, especially among children.
The CDC has not released estimates on how well this season’s flu vaccine is working yet. Two strains of seasonal flu – H1N1 and H3N2 – are causing most illnesses.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-season-cdc-a640e8fe0bffa4a8f6bdbd7ea8e5608a