This year’s flu season is underway in the United States, and the number of cases is rising, according to the latest flu data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The elevated flu season comes as COVID-19 and RSV continue to impact thousands of Americans across the country, leaving some hard-hit areas dealing with a “tripledemic” of all three illnesses.
Health Exec Summary
Health officials previously expected this year’s flu season to be especially robust. After two years of social distancing and lockdown measures influenced lower-than-usual flu activity, the illness is likely to spread far and wide this season as more people travel and resume normal social activities. In addition, population immunity is low this year, leading experts to predict high flu activity. Furthermore, the winter season is expected to bring about another wave of COVID-19 infections in the United States after Europe began seeing higher cases and hospitalizations this fall.
Flu by the numbers
So far this year, the CDC has reported at least 6.2 million illnesses, 53,000 hospitalizations and 2,900 deaths from the flu, according to the latest data. In total, there have been 12 pediatric flu deaths this season, including five within the last week. By the end of October, the U.S. saw the highest number of hospitalizations for the flu in the last decade. The last time hospitalizations were so high was in 2009, when the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic swept the nation.
The CDC previously issued its flu season predictions and advised that all Americans should get a flu vaccine, particularly those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly, though the vaccine is approved for everyone six months and older.
Fortunately, this year’s vaccine is matching up well with the positive flu strains being detected in many cases, the data revealed. The flu vaccine is updated each year to guard against what scientists believe will be the most common strains within that flu season. As of Nov. 5, 2022, more than 150 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed for the season, according to the CDC’s Flu Vaccination Dashboard.
In the CDC’s latest FluView report, which tracks seasonal flu activity, found that 6% of visits to a healthcare provider are for respiratory illness as of the week ending Nov. 19, 2022.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."