The US continues to see a dramatic and early rise in respiratory illness, which primarily affects young children and sets records for the decade.
The Southeast region is most affected by the wave, which is caused by cases of influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus) and other seasonal respiratory viruses. Seven southern states — Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia — have reached the highest level of respiratory disease on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scale. The states are colored deep purple on the national map, which represents the highest sub-level of “Very High” activity.
In all, 25 states experience “high” or “very high” levels of respiratory disease, while six have reached the moderate category.
The number of outpatients and hospital admissions is rising and has not (yet) surpassed the peaks of all previous seasons. However, the levels they’ve reached at this point in the flu season — week 44 of the year — are higher than the levels seen at this point in any year since 2010, the CDC notes. The agency estimates there have been at least 2.8 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 1,300 deaths from flu so far this season. This week, the agency counted three pediatric flu deaths, bringing the season’s total to five.
Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) cause more children to seek outpatient care, compared to all other age groups – 15.4 percent of outpatient visits by children aged 0 to 4 were for ILI and 10 percent for ILI in those aged 5 up to 24 years.
The cumulative hospitalization rate per 100,000 people for week 44 is the highest since 2010, at 5 per 100,000. For reference, all seasons between 2010 and 2021 had week 44 hospitalizations ranging from just 0.1 to 0.7. Breaking down by age, the highest rates for week 44 of this year were among adults 65 years of age or older (10.7 per 100,000), followed by children aged 0 to 4 years (9.3 per 100,000), then adults aged 50- 64 (4.9). children aged 5-17 (5.0) and adults aged 18-49 (2.6).
In the CDC’s oversight of circulating flu strains, the season appears to be driven by an H3N2 strain of the influenza virus, which is a good fit with the season’s flu shot. However, flu shot uptake is behind where normal for the season, although circulation is ahead of normal patterns, the CDC noted.
“Influenza vaccine uptake has lagged compared to previous seasons,” said CDC director Rochelle Walenksy tweeted from her verified CDC account Friday. “It’s time to get your flu vaccine, as well as your updated COVID19 vaccine if you haven’t already.”
