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CDC Reports Major Drop in Flu Hospitalizations
17 Jan
Summary
- Flu hospital admissions have seen a substantial decrease, CDC figures show.
- High flu activity states dropped from 44 to 36, indicating a positive trend.
- Flu season is considered moderate, but a second surge remains possible.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal a substantial fall in flu-related hospital admissions, signaling a potential easing of the current respiratory virus season. There has also been a decrease in medical appointments for flu-like symptoms, and the number of states reporting high flu activity has dropped from 44 to 36. This positive trend is occurring without significant surges in other prevalent winter illnesses like COVID-19 and RSV.
Despite the declining numbers, CDC officials have characterized the season as 'moderate,' cautioning that it is far from over. Infectious diseases specialists note that flu activity often sees a resurgence after the winter holidays. This season has been particularly concerning due to the dominance of the A H3N2 flu strain, which historically leads to higher hospitalizations and deaths among older adults.
Further complicating matters, about 90 percent of analyzed H3N2 infections represent a new strain, differing from the version targeted by this year's flu shots. So far this season, the CDC estimates at least 18 million flu illnesses, 230,000 hospitalizations, and 9,300 deaths, including 32 children. For the children whose vaccination status is known, 90% were not fully vaccinated.
