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Ishita Roy

Flu Cases Are Rising. Here’s Where the Risk Is Highest

Flu cases are rising in the US, with the virus exploding across the country. Like many experts have earlier pointed that that this would be the 'worst season' and that 'it is not over yet'. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC data too tells us that records are reaching all time highs in some cases. 

<h2>What Does CDC Data Say About Increased Flu Activity In US?</h2>

For the first time since 1997, when flu data was first tracked, 8% of visits to doctors related to flu or flu-like illness and symptoms the week ending with December 27 has increased. Hospitalization too increased by 48% week over week, which has now amounted to 120,000 hospitalization and 5,000 deaths so far in this season.

The CDC data shows that just under 33% or 23,350 of the 70,757 fly tests were reported positive to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System. This was also up by 9% during the first week of December. 

Regions like Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming reported numbers as high as over 45%. CDC also noted "very high" activity in the Northeast, the week ending with December 27, including in New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. 

Wastewater data by WasterWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool also tracked the spread of the disease and said that the flu activity was "high". It noted that the activity increased by 146%. 

<h2>Why Is This Season's Flu The Worst One Yet?</h2>

This year's flu came after the flu vaccination was made, which means the current vaccination does not align with the mutation, however, experts have pointed out that it still continues to offer protection against the illness. This season's flu is a mutation of H3N2 or <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/influenza">influenza</a></span> A, called the subclade K, or what people are calling '<span>super flu</span>'. 

This is the culprit in rising flu cases, globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) on its website said that K variant marks "a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses". Some are also questioning the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine against the strain.

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/unique-symptoms-of-flu-in-2026-and-how-long-infection-now-last-article-153402967" data-type="tilCustomLink">Unique Symptoms Of Flu In 2026 And How Long Infection Now Last</a>

The flu virus is highly contagious and spreads easily in crowded places, especially during the colder months.

In some cases, the infection can progress to the lungs, which could lead to complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. Yale Medicine too notes that this virus could attack the respiratory system, including throat, nose, and lungs.

<h2>What Are The Common Symptoms This Season For The Flu?</h2>

K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:

<ul><li>Fever</li><li>Chills</li><li>Headache</li><li>Fatigue</li><li>Cough</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Runny nose</li></ul>

<h2>Are The Old Vaccines Effective Against This New Variant?</h2>

"The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.

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Flu cases are rising in the US, with the virus exploding across the country. Like many experts have earlier pointed that that this would be the 'worst season' and that 'it is not over yet'. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC data too tells us that records are reaching all time highs in some cases. What Does CDC Data Say About Increased Flu Activity In US?For the first time since 1997, when flu data was first tracked, 8% of visits to doctors related to flu or flu-like illness and symptoms the week ending with December 27 has increased. Hospitalization too increased by 48% week over week, which has now amounted to 120,000 hospitalization and 5,000 deaths so far in this season.The CDC data shows that just under 33% or 23,350 of the 70,757 fly tests were reported positive to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System. This was also up by 9% during the first week of December. Regions like Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming reported numbers as high as over 45%. CDC also noted "very high" activity in the Northeast, the week ending with December 27, including in New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Wastewater data by WasterWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool also tracked the spread of the disease and said that the flu activity was "high". It noted that the activity increased by 146%. Why Is This Season's Flu The Worst One Yet?This year's flu came after the flu vaccination was made, which means the current vaccination does not align with the mutation, however, experts have pointed out that it still continues to offer protection against the illness. This season's flu is a mutation of H3N2 or influenza A, called the subclade K, or what people are calling 'super flu'. This is the culprit in rising flu cases, globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) on its website said that K variant marks "a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses". Some are also questioning the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine against the strain.Read: Unique Symptoms Of Flu In 2026 And How Long Infection Now LastThe flu virus is highly contagious and spreads easily in crowded places, especially during the colder months.In some cases, the infection can progress to the lungs, which could lead to complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. Yale Medicine too notes that this virus could attack the respiratory system, including throat, nose, and lungs.What Are The Common Symptoms This Season For The Flu?K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:FeverChillsHeadacheFatigueCoughSore throatRunny noseAre The Old Vaccines Effective Against This New Variant?"The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.

flu cases are rising. here’s where the risk is highest

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