How Bad Will It Get? Flu Rates Are Still Rising

Nearly one in three people getting tested for the flu are hearing back from their health care provider that it’s positive. 

Nearly 8% of all outpatient clinic visits are being linked to people seeking treatment for what health officials call “flu-like illness,” meaning having the symptoms of fever and coughing or a sore throat, according to the latest CDC flu data from the last week of January. That may be the highest rate since the 2srcsrc9-2src1src flu season, although CDC officials acknowledge it’s a complicated comparison.

It seemed like the flu was on the retreat a month ago. Flu-like illness clinic visits had appeared to peak the week of Christmas, and then declined the first 2 weeks of January. But then they began climbing again, and it’s unclear so far where things may top out. 

Wastewater data doesn’t provide as clear of a picture for predicting flu viral activity, the way that COVID-19 is often monitored in the wastewater, because the CDC says the measurements can’t tell whether the signs of flu are from humans or from bird flu in poultry and cows. Every US state is reporting high influenza A wastewater levels, except Arizona, Colorado, and Indiana. Those three states have moderate levels.

Nearly all human flu tests recently sent to the CDC were from two specific influenza A strains, called influenza A(H1N1)pdmsrc9 and influenza A(H3N2). There have been 57 pediatric deaths so far this season, with 1src recorded the last week of January. The CDC doesn’t officially track adult deaths, but the agency estimates there have been 13,srcsrcsrc flu-related deaths. About 24 million people have had the flu in the US so far this season. Typically, between 9 million and 4src million get the flu in the US annually.

The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months or older get a flu vaccine, although so far this year, fewer adults have gotten the shot, compared to last year. The adult flu vaccination rate this season is 44%, down from 48% last season. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, “as long as influenza (flu) viruses are circulating in your community, it’s not too late to get vaccinated against flu.”

SOURCES:

CDC: “FluView, Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 5, ending February 1, 2src25,” “Influenza A Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map,” “Facts About Estimated Flu Burden,” “Influenza Vaccination Coverage and Intent for Vaccination, Adults 18 Years and Older, United States.”

The Associated Press: “Flu season in the US is the most intense it’s been in at least 15 years.”

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: “It’s Not Too Late to Get a Flu Vaccine.”