Flu activity rises sharply across the US with at least 7.5 million illnesses: CDC
ABC News • • general
Key Points:
- Flu activity in the U.S. is rising sharply, with the CDC estimating at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths this season, including eight pediatric deaths so far.
- The majority of cases are linked to a new H3N2 flu variant called subclade K, which has driven recent spikes in flu cases in countries like Canada, Japan, and the U.K.
- At least 20 states report "very high" respiratory illness activity, while nine states have "high" activity; flu cases are expected to continue increasing due to holiday gatherings and colder weather.
- Despite widespread availability, only about 42% of the population has received the flu vaccine
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