"For many Massachusetts residents, this year's flu season hasn't felt routine - it's felt relentless. "Terrible. Like death. Chills, aches, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, snot production at 100% and then it settles into your chest," said Boston.com reader Jen L. of Newton. "0/10 do not recommend." On Cape Cod, A.M.B. said the illness landed her in the hospital. "I was diagnosed with Flu A on 12/30/25. I was hospitalized 6 days later. I was never so sick in my entire life. I am still recovering." Others said the flu hit hard and fast, even among those who were vaccinated. "The flu season seems worse than usual," said Karen B. "I am currently getting over the flu and felt the worst for about 36 hours. I am vaccinated but still got sick.""
"Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, former chief of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said it's difficult to definitively call this year's flu season worse than last year's. "The difference this year has been the earlier onset of the epidemic, not so much that there has been any difference in severity of individual cases," he said. According to Kuritzkes, last year's flu season actually saw more cases during its peak than this year's. "The 2024-2025 flu season peaked in February with 9,817 confirmed influenza visits to emergency departments in Massachusetts, Kuritzkes said, referring to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. This year's flu season appeared to ramp up quickly in late November and peaked during the week of Christmas with 6,686 confirmed emergency department visits for influenza, the data show.""
Flu activity in Massachusetts began earlier this season, ramping up in late November and peaking during the week of Christmas. Emergency department visits for influenza reached 6,686 at this season's peak, compared with 9,817 during the 2024-2025 season peak in February. Infectious disease experts report no clear increase in severity of individual cases, though many people described intense symptoms and some required hospitalization. Vaccinated individuals have still contracted influenza. Recommended protections include vaccination, staying home when ill, hand hygiene, and timely antiviral treatment for eligible patients to reduce complications.
Read at Boston.com
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