A second peak of illness and hospitalizations is plaguing Oregon this month, with the state’s flu season potentially becoming the worst in over a decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the current flu season as high severity overall for all age groups, marking the first time since 2017-2018.
According to Dr. Wendy Hasson, medical director of pediatric ICU at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, several children have been critically ill due to the flu, requiring ventilation and heart support. The CDC’s test positivity rate has risen again, with 21% of flu tests coming back positive last week, as hospitalizations surge.
In Oregon, the flu season started normally but saw a significant increase in transmission after Christmas, with 31.5% of tests ordered by hospitals and doctors coming back positive. However, this positivity rate fell to 18% by mid-January before rising again.
The Portland metro area has reported 1,345 influenza hospitalizations since October, similar to the state’s report from the 2017-2018 season. The majority of these cases involve people over 65 years old.
Experts recommend vaccination as the most effective way to prevent flu complications. However, less than half of Oregonians typically get their annual flu shot, with only 29% vaccinated this season.
Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases at the Oregon Health Authority, notes that the flu vaccine is not perfect but has saved countless lives and reduced severe outcomes in children by up to 75%. He also expresses concern about potential policy changes under the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has cast doubt on childhood vaccines.
As the ICU at Randall Children’s Hospital treats higher-than-usual numbers of children with complex flu cases, Dr. Hasson warns that extended hospitalizations can cause long-term harm. He emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated and proactively testing for the virus to prevent severe outcomes.
Source: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/25/oregon-influenza-a-flu-shot-vaccine-health-seasonal-virus-science-portland-hospitals-cdc