New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that flu season activity is currently low across much of the United States. As of last week, only four states—Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York—reported high flu activity. Most other regions showed minimal to low levels of influenza. Despite this, officials caution that severity indicators are rising, although they still classify the season as “mild.”
Respiratory illnesses tend to peak in winter months as indoor gatherings increase the spread of germs. In addition to the flu, other viruses such as norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, have shown an upward trend in cases over the past month.
Flu Virus Concerns Persist
Experts are particularly vigilant about the flu, especially following last season’s high hospitalization rates, which were the worst since the H1N1 pandemic 15 years ago. The CDC reported that child flu deaths reached 288, matching totals from the 2009-2010 pandemic. This week marked the first reported pediatric flu death of the current season.
With the flu season typically peaking around February, concerns remain regarding the potential severity of this winter. The H3N2 flu virus, known for causing significant hospitalizations and fatalities among older adults, is the most frequently reported strain this year. Alarmingly, 89% of analyzed H3N2 infections were identified as a new variant, known as the subclade K, which differs from the strain included in this year’s flu vaccinations.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination, recommending that everyone aged six months and older receive an annual flu shot. So far, approximately 42% of U.S. adults and 41% of children have been vaccinated this season. While the vaccine may not prevent all flu symptoms, it has been shown to reduce the severity of infections, as indicated by preliminary analyses from the UK.
RSV and COVID-19 Trends
Another virus of concern is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which typically causes cold-like symptoms but can be particularly dangerous for infants and the elderly. Historically, RSV peaks by December or January, but this season has seen lower-than-usual reported cases so far. Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious diseases expert at Duke University, noted that the increase in RSV cases is likely forthcoming, particularly in southern and mid-Atlantic states.
Encouragingly, new RSV vaccines licensed in 2023 for pregnant women and older adults, along with laboratory-made antibodies for infants, may be contributing to higher vaccination rates. As of October, about 41% of Americans aged 75 and older and 40% of infants were reported to have received protection against RSV.
In contrast, COVID-19 activity remains relatively low. Recent CDC research indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective in preventing severe illness among children. Among those aged nine months to four years, the vaccine was found to be 76% effective in preventing symptoms severe enough to require emergency care, while it was 56% effective for children aged five to seventeen.
Despite these findings, fewer individuals are opting for COVID-19 vaccinations this season. Only about 7% of children and 15% of adults have received the current version of the vaccine, according to CDC data. In October, the agency ceased recommending COVID-19 shots for the general population, leaving the decision to individuals, which has sparked debate among medical professionals regarding the importance of vaccination for a disease that has contributed to over 1.2 million deaths in the U.S.
The information in this report is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Associated Press is solely responsible for the content of this article.
