This year's U.S. winter virus season has reached unprecedented intensity, marking the most severe flu season in at least 15 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the percentage of doctor's office visits due to flu-like symptoms exceeded peaks from any previous winter flu season since 2009-2010.
The data, released on Friday, underscores just how serious this year's outbreak has been.
U.S. Vaccination Rates
Despite the severity of the flu season, vaccination rates have remained consistent with previous years, according to CDC data. About 44 percent of adults received flu shots this winter, similar to last winter. However, the flu vaccination rate for children has decreased to about 45 percent, down from the usual 50 percent.
Additionally, about 23 percent of U.S. adults were up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations by late January, a slight increase from the previous year. COVID-19 vaccination rates for children have remained constant at about 12 percent.
What To Know
So far, the CDC estimates that this flu season has resulted in at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths, including 57 children. Typically peaking around February, the flu season has already demonstrated extensive reach and severity.
The flu's impact has been felt nationwide, causing significant disruptions, including school closures. The Godley Independent School District in Texas, for instance, had to shut down for three days last week after 650 students and 60 staff members were absent because of the flu. Jeff Meador, a district spokesman, described it as the worst flu season he could remember.
The CDC refused to allow an Associated Press reporter to speak with an agency flu expert regarding the increase in flu cases. The decision follows a directive from the Trump administration that has temporarily halted health agency communications and continues to deny interview requests that were previously granted as a matter of routine.
In addition to the flu, other viral infections have been prevalent. However, COVID-19 cases appear to be declining, according to hospital data and CDC modeling projections. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) also seems to be waning. Nevertheless, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week, with the virus being most intense in the South, Southwest and West.
To prevent the spread of seasonal viruses, doctors recommend avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth, washing hands frequently with soap and water, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.
What People Are Saying
Louisiana's Evangel Christian Academy, in a Wednesday Facebook post: "We have been hit hard with the flu bug, stomach bug, and other "bugs" on this campus. It has impacted our faculty and staff badly. I am not able to safely staff the next two days. Therefore, we will be closing our campus Thursday, February 6, and Friday, February 7."
Tennessee's Lebanon Special School District wrote on its website: "After careful consideration, LSSD will be closing due to a significant number of staff, including teachers and bus drivers, being absent due to illness. At this time, absences are impacting our ability to maintain normal school operations. In addition, we have seen a large percentage of students out due to sickness as well. In an effort to break the cycle of illness and prevent further spread, we will close for three days beginning tomorrow, February 5... We will return to school on Monday, February 10."
What Happens Next
Health officials are monitoring two predominant strains of seasonal flu—Type A H1N1 and Type A H3N2—that are causing most of the illnesses. They are also keeping a close watch on a third strain, a bird flu known as Type A H5N1, which has infected tens of millions of animals but only 67 people in the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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