The 2024-25 flu season in America has reached alarming levels, with the CDC reporting 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 fatalities. This season is classified as 'high severity' for all age groups for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Notably, the flu is impacting not only the elderly but also infants and young children. Recent weeks have seen a spike in pediatric deaths, underscoring the severity of this flu season, which has affected states across the country differently, with some facing considerably higher illness rates.
According to the CDC's latest US Influenza Surveillance Report for the week ending February 8, 2025, the flu this season has accounted for 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths.
The flu has historically been particularly dangerous to the elderly, but sadly, this season, the illness is also hitting infants and children hard. The CDC says that in the past week alone, there were 11 influenza-associated pediatric deaths, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the season to 68.
Based on data available this week, this season is now classified as a high severity season overall and for all age groups (children, adults, older adults) for the first time since 2017-2018.
While respiratory illnesses seem to be running roughshod across the country, some states have it worse than others. The CDC's Outpatient Respiratory Illness Activity Map classifies respiratory illness rates into five categories: very-high, high, moderate, low, and minimal.
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