Overview
- CDC estimates for the season through the week ending Dec. 27 reached roughly 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and about 5,000 deaths.
- Forty-five states reported high or very high activity, and 8.2% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness, the highest rate since national tracking began in 1997.
- A genetic offshoot of H3N2 known as subclade K makes up about 90% of recently characterized H3N2 viruses, contributing to faster spread and a partial vaccine mismatch.
- New York recorded its highest single-week flu hospitalizations, and at least nine pediatric deaths have been confirmed nationwide as children’s emergency visits climb.
- Health officials urge vaccination and early antiviral treatment for high‑risk patients, and HHS announced changes to the childhood vaccine schedule removing a universal flu-shot recommendation as the CDC site continues to advise vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.