The flu is soaring in seven US states and rising in others, health officials say

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The flu season has commenced in the United States, and health officials are noting significant flu activity in multiple states, while cases are on the rise in other regions of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated flu data, revealing that Louisiana experienced very high flu activity last week. Additionally, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, and South Carolina reported high flu activity. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, also witnessed high levels of flu activity, with health officials in Puerto Rico even declaring an influenza epidemic earlier this month.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University, remarked, “We’re off to the races,” signaling the onset of the flu season. Traditionally, the winter flu season typically gains momentum in December or January. However, last year, it began in October, and this year, it is making an entrance in November.

Flu activity is described as moderate but increasing in New York City, Arkansas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. In Alaska, flu activity has been high for several weeks, although the state did not provide data for the latest count.

Monitoring flu activity during the season relies partly on reports from individuals exhibiting flu-like symptoms who seek medical attention at doctor’s offices or hospitals. It’s worth noting that not everyone with the flu undergoes testing, leading to unconfirmed infections. Additionally, the presence of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses can complicate the overall picture.

Alicia Budd, who heads the CDC’s flu surveillance team, has indicated that multiple indicators are pointing towards “continued increases” in flu cases.

There are various strains of flu viruses, and the one predominant this year tends to result in fewer hospitalizations and deaths among the elderly, the group most vulnerable to flu-related complications. Thus far this autumn, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 780,000 flu illnesses, over 8,000 hospitalizations, and at least 490 flu-related deaths, including one child.

Regarding the effectiveness of current flu vaccines, it remains uncertain, but they are well-matched to the circulating flu strains. In the U.S., approximately 35% of adults and 33% of children have received flu vaccinations, according to current CDC data. These rates represent a decline compared to the previous year in both age groups.

It’s noteworthy that flu vaccination rates are relatively higher compared to the recommended vaccinations for other primary respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 and RSV. Only around 14% of adults and 5% of children have received the currently recommended COVID-19 vaccine, while roughly 13.5% of adults aged 60 and older have received one of the RSV shots introduced earlier this year.

[Note: The provided text contains news content from an external source, and the information is accurate as of the date mentioned in the text.]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Flu season in the US

More about Flu season in the US

• CDC FluView – Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
• CDC Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States
• CDC Information on Flu
• AP News – The Big Big News Health and Science Department