Bad flu season getting worse in U.S.

Health officials say cases on the rise in 47 states

By: Mike Snider
USA Today

..... Flu is surging across the United States amid a busy holiday travel time.
..... The state of New York is among those most heavily hit. For the week that ended December 20, [2025] the state of New York reported its highest number of positive flu cases (71,123) ever recorded in a single week, according to the New York State Department of Health. That represented an increase of 38% over the previous week, the department said.
..... New York is one of 14 states that have reported high or very high activity of outpatient visits to health care providers for influenza-like illnesses, for the week ending December 13, [2025] according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The District of Columbia, New York City and Puerto Rico have also registered high or very high flu-like cases, the agency says.
..... As of December 16, [2025] flu infections were on the rise, or likely growing in 47 states, with cases declining only in Hawaii, the CDC projected.
..... The increase in seasonal flu activity across the United Stat4es is similar to several past seasons, the CDC says. But it comes along with a new flu strain - subclade K, - variation of the influenza A9H3N2) virus - responsible for flu outbreaks in Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada.
..... Health officials have been concerned the current flu vaccine may be a mismatch for the new variant but have expressed confidence it has protection against serious illness.
..... Health officials aren't yet sure if the new flu strain is leading to more infections or more severe cases, "but what is clear is that cases are increasing, and we're seeing a lot of influenza cases increasing across the country, and hat's a trend that we're sure will continue into the new year," Andrew Pekosz, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response, said in a December 16 [2025] video health briefing.

fewer Americans getting flu shots

..... Also potentially contributing to an increase in cases is a decline in Americans getting flu shots. While more than 47.6 million flu vaccinations have been given at retail pharmacies and physicians' offices so far in the 2025-2026 season, that's down about 3 million from last year, [2024] according to the CDC.
..... The government shutdown, which ran from October 1 to November 12, [2025] also likely meant a decrease in flu activity data, which could have affected vaccination rates, Jennifer Nuzzo, professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, said in a flu report published December 19 [2025] by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
..... "We're potentially heading into a flu season that could be quite a doozy, and we know we;re starting it with fewer data and more crucially, fewer vaccinations," she said.

Flu has led to 1,900 deaths

..... The CDC estimates hat there have been at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations and 1,900 deaths from flu so far this season. During the week that ended December13, [2025] there were tow pediatric deaths reported to the DCD, brining flu-related pediatric deaths so far this season to three, the agency said.
..... In Colorado, where the CDC said flu-like activity was "very high," emergency department visits with a flu diagnosis increased 7% for the week ending December 20, [2025] according to the state's Department of Public Health and Environment.
..... Influenza accounted for 7% of emergency department visits in Louisiana, up from about 6% the previous week, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. All respiratory illnesses including flu, COVID-19 and RSV made up nearly 9% of emergency visits, the department said.
..... In New Yoke City, visits to emergency rooms with a flu diagnosis increased to 8.75% for the week ending December 20, [2025] up form 6.76% the previous week, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

States with high flu activity

..... The CDC's FluView Interactive Map is based on outpatient visits to health care providers for influenza-like illness within a state or territory. These states, territories and cities had high or very high levels:
* Colorado (very high)
* Connecticut (high)
* District of Columbia (high)
* Idaho (high)
* Massachusetts (high)
* New Hampshire (high)
* New Jersey (high)
* New Mexico (high)
* New York (very high)
* New York City (very high) * Puerto Rico (high)
* Louisiana (very high)
* Georgia (high) * Maryland (high)
* Michigan (high)
* North Carolina (high)
* South Carlina (high)

What are the symptoms?

..... Symptoms associated with H3N2 associated to those of other influenza viruses and include fever, cough, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches and chills.

How to protect yourself

..... It's not too late to get a flu vaccination. The CDC,World Health Organization and other leading medical institutions consider it the most effective way to prevent serious illness from the flu. Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for the flu vaccine unless they have a specified medical condition, such as an allergy to its ingredients or a previous severe reaction to the shot.
..... To help stop the spread of flu, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or sue an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, notes the New York state health department. Other ways to prevent the spread include:
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and month with unwashed hands.
* Stay home if you are sick.
* Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
* Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
* Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

..... Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today.

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