U.S. Sees Surge in Flu Cases
The agency said that 8.2% of health care visits this week were for respiratory illness, marking the highest rate recorded since 1997.
Hospitalizations and emergency department visits are also on the rise, particularly among younger populations. Rates have increased by approximately 35% among people under 24 and about 20% for children under 5, the CDC noted.
So far this season, the CDC estimates 11 million flu illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths, which include nine pediatric deaths.
Experts highlighted that influenza A (H3N2), specifically subclade K, remains the most commonly detected virus this week.
“Subclade K has been circulating since last summer and was a significant factor in flu spikes in countries such as Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom,” health officials said. In New York City alone, infections are estimated at more than 72,000 cases in a single week, fueling public concern.
The CDC emphasized that flu activity is expected to persist for several more weeks and urged Americans to receive an annual flu vaccine.
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