The US is experiencing its most intense flu season since 2009

Join our free Well being Verify electronic mail to obtain unique evaluation on the week in well being

Get our free Well being Verify electronic mail

Get our free Well being Verify electronic mail

The U.S. is experiencing its most intense flu season in 15 years, in accordance with new information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

The company reported Friday that 7.8 p.c of visits for respiratory sickness to outpatient suppliers reported this week had been individuals with influenza, the worst since 2009 to 2010.

It additionally reported 10 further influenza-associated pediatric deaths, making a complete of 57 this season.

Up to now, there have been not less than 13,000 deaths, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 24 million flu sicknesses.

open picture in gallery

Throughout the nation, many states have excessive to very excessive ranges of influenza, a weekly CDC map confirmed.

Probably the most affected states had been within the South, Midwest, and Northeast areas.

Jeff Meador, a spokesman for Texas’ Godley Unbiased Faculty District, advised The Related Press this week that that is the worst flu season he may bear in mind. The flu has pressured the district to shut, with 650 college students and 60 employees had been out sick on Tuesday.

Faculties have closed in not less than 10 states, in accordance with TODAY.com.

In Illinois, well being authorities reported to WSIL that whereas Covid and RSV are declining, flu circumstances are rising.

open picture in gallery

The Pope County Faculty District closed late final month.

“We had over 40 p.c of all of our college students out. After which we additionally had about 24 employees members out that day, too. And that is something from custodians to lecturers to particular person aides, classroom aides,” Superintendent Ryan Fritch advised the station.

The second surge amid waves of norovirus and different viral infections have pressured hospitals, with some implementing restrictive measures and asking individuals to put on masks.

open picture in gallery

Well being officers advocate that everybody six months and older obtain an annual flu shot. About the identical quantity of adults acquired their flu vaccinations this winter as they did final 12 months. However numbers for youngsters had been about 5 p.c decrease than typical, which is normally about 50 p.c. The federal government has but to report its estimates of how properly this season’s flu vaccine is working.

“What worries us essentially the most are bacterial infections that may comply with alongside influenza [and] get youngsters tremendous, tremendous sick. … Flu itself and people issues can result in loss of life in youngsters. … Influenza could be very scary,” Dr. Jason Newland, the division chief of infectious ailments at Nationwide Kids’s Hospital, advised TODAY.com.

With reporting from The Related Press