U.S. Winter Virus Season Reaches Intense Levels, CDC Reports

By Mike Stobbé

NEW YORK — The U.S. winter virus season is in full swing and has reached one of the most intense levels in 15 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Flu Activity at All-Time High Since 2009-2010

One key indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits for flu-like symptoms. Last week, this figure surpassed the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010, when a swine flu pandemic swept the nation.

Other Viral Infections on Decline

While other viral infections, such as RSV and COVID-19, have been on the decline, the flu continues to dominate. According to hospital data and CDC modeling projections, COVID-19 and RSV cases have been decreasing nationally.

RELATED: Flu Levels ‘Very High’ and Climbing in Michigan

School Closures Highlight Severity

The severity of the flu season has led to school closures across some states. The Godley Independent School District, with 3,200 students near Fort Worth, Texas, closed for three days after 650 students and 60 staff fell ill.

Jeff Meador, a district spokesman, noted that the majority of the illnesses were flu, with some cases of strep throat. “It’s the worst flu season I can remember,” he said.

Flu Impact Statistics

The CDC estimates that so far this season, there have been at least 24 million flu cases, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths, including at least 57 children. Traditionally, flu seasons peak around February.

High Activity in Multiple Regions

Overall, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week. The South, Southwest, and western states experienced the most intense flu activity.

Simultaneous Respiratory Illnesses

Dr. Elizabeth Murray of the University of Rochester Medical Center noted that while the flu season has been intense, it appears to be in line with previous years in terms of severity.

Dr. Murray added, “There’s a lot of flu, but there’s also still a lot of RSV and a surprising number of babies with COVID-19. All of the respiratory illnesses are around, with a vengeance.”

Communication Issues at CDC

The CDC declined to make flu experts available for an interview about recent trends. The Trump administration had ordered a temporary “pause” on communications from health agencies, which has continued.

However, a CDC spokesperson acknowledged that the flu activity levels are the highest ever recorded. They also noted that the baseline estimate for doctor’s office visits is recalculated annually.

Vaccination Recommendations

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. About 44% of adults got their flu shots this winter, the same rate as the previous season. Unfortunately, vaccination rates among children have dropped to about 45%, down from around 50% in previous years.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates

As of late January, about 23% of U.S. adults were up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, compared to 20% at the same time last year. Vaccination rates for children were around 12%, similar to the previous year.

Flu Strain Monitoring

Health officials are closely monitoring two main strains of seasonal flu causing illnesses: Type A H1N1 and Type A H3N2. They are also keeping an eye on a third strain, Type A H5N1, or bird flu, which has affected millions of animals but has only infected 67 people in the U.S.

Prevention Tips

To avoid seasonal viruses, experts recommend avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, washing your hands with soap and water, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and steering clear of sick individuals.