Overview
- CDC data show a slight national uptick after January’s decline, with influenza B approaching a quarter of lab-confirmed cases in late January and seven states at the highest activity level.
- This season has produced an estimated 22 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths, with weekly hospitalizations peaking at the highest rate since 2009–10.
- At least 60 pediatric deaths have been reported, and roughly 90% of the children who died were unvaccinated, underscoring continued gaps in protection.
- Experts caution that a secondary rise is possible as influenza B typically peaks later, can follow an earlier A infection, and may cause more gastrointestinal symptoms and seizures in children.
- Japan reports a second alert-level spike tied to dry conditions, with officials urging vaccination, masks in crowded settings and indoor humidification to curb spread.