Updated surveillance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that indicators of influenza activity in the United States have decreased for the second straight week. The agency's most recent report, covering data through last week, highlights a significant reduction in hospital admissions related to the flu and a lower, yet meaningful, decline in visits to healthcare providers for influenza-like illness.
Moreover, the number of states classified as experiencing high flu activity has dropped from 44 to 36, suggesting a broader national easing of flu virus transmission. Concurrently, other respiratory illnesses common to the winter months, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), have not exhibited any major outbreak surges in recent reporting.
Health authorities characterize the ongoing respiratory virus season as "moderate." Nevertheless, this designation should not be interpreted as signaling the conclusion of the flu season. Experts stress that it is not uncommon for a second wave of influenza cases to emerge following the holiday period.
Dr. William Schaffner, a specialist in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, commented on the current situation, stating, "We have observed past seasons where after an initial peak, flu activity has subsided only to persist for a prolonged time." He further noted that while many hope for a swift end to this year’s flu waves, reliance on early signs of decline remains uncertain.
The ongoing flu season has presented particular challenges due to the dominance of the A H3N2 influenza virus subtype. This strain is historically associated with the highest rates of hospitalization and mortality among older adult populations. Alarmingly, about 90% of the H3N2 viral samples analyzed during this season correspond to a novel strain that diverges from the variant included in the current year’s influenza vaccination formulations.
To date, CDC estimates for the season include at least 18 million flu illnesses, approximately 230,000 hospital admissions, and an estimated 9,300 deaths attributable to influenza. Among mortality statistics, at least 32 children have died. Notably, of the pediatric cases where vaccination status is documented, 90% of these children were not fully immunized against the flu.