This flu season has emerged as particularly severe, with influenza cases surpassing COVID-19 in both hospitalizations and fatalities for the first time during the pandemic. With over 29 million estimated cases and more than 370,000 hospitalizations reported, the CDC highlighted an alarming increase in severe illnesses, especially pneumonia cases requiring ventilation. The pediatric population is at notable risk, facing rising flu deaths and serious neurological complications. The declining rates of seasonal flu vaccinations in recent years compound concerns over the severity of this season's outbreak.
The two predominant strains that are circulating right now are known to be more severe and have more severe outcomes, especially in high-risk patients.
It's really clogging up our ERs and our outpatient facilities. And for the first time, we've seen cases of influenza that have surpassed COVID-19 in hospitalizations and deaths, since the COVID pandemic began.
Pediatric flu deaths hit a record 200 last year, and this season is shaping up to be worse.
This flu season may be made more severe because rates of seasonal flu vaccination have been falling in recent years for some groups, including children.
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