Flu hospitalizations in Colorado surge to highest level in 20 years
The Denver Post••health
Key Points:
- Nearly 800 Coloradans were hospitalized with the flu last week, marking the highest weekly number in over 20 years, as cases surge nationwide driven by a new H3N2 variant called subclade K.
- The flu season started earlier than usual, with hospitalizations rising sharply after holiday gatherings, and medical experts expect cases to continue increasing in the coming weeks.
- Despite mutations in subclade K reducing some vaccine effectiveness, health officials emphasize that flu shots still provide important protection, especially against severe illness and hospitalization.
- The CDC reports at least 7.5 million flu illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths nationwide this season, with some states like New York experiencing record case
