Health and Me

Itisha Arya

Flu Deaths Rise Across The US As Reported Cases Nearly Double In One Week

flu deaths across us

According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this flu season has already seen over seven million cases, resulting in roughly 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths.

<h2>Flu Hospitalizations Surge Week Over Week</h2>

In the week ending December 20, there were 19,053 flu-related hospitalizations reported, more than 9,000 higher than the previous week — while influenza-linked deaths continue to trend upward, as per USA Today.

In addition, five influenza-related pediatric deaths were reported during the second-to-last week of the year, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the 2025-2026 season to eight.

The CDC also highlighted that “seasonal influenza activity is elevated and continues to increase across the country.”

<h2>Flu: A New Variant Driving Cases</h2>

Most of the newly reported infections are caused by a version of Influenza A (H3N2) called “subclade K,” first spotted in Australia over the summer, according to NPR.

Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told NPR that “a large surge” tends to follow “anywhere we detect this virus.”

“The timing isn’t much different from other flu seasons, but the number of cases and how quickly they’re rising is unusual for this time of year,” he explained.

Flu symptoms usually come on quickly and can feel overwhelming. They may differ from one person to another, but there are some typical warning signs to look out for. If several of these symptoms appear together, it’s best to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and stay home to reduce the risk of passing the virus on to others.

The most frequently reported symptoms are:

<ul><li>Fever or a feverish feeling, often with chills</li><li>Ongoing or worsening cough</li><li>Pain or irritation in the throat</li><li>A blocked or runny nose</li><li>Muscle soreness or body aches</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Severe tiredness or exhaustion</li><li>In some cases, particularly in children, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea</li></ul>

“We just don’t know where this upward trend will stop,” Pekosz added, noting that this is “the main concern in most medical communities right now.”

Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told NPR that while the variant isn’t technically more severe than previous flu strains, people don’t seem to have the same level of immunity as they do against past strains.

<h2>Flu Vaccination Remains the Best Protection</h2>

Medical experts continue to stress that getting a flu shot is the most effective way to prevent illness this season. Although some worry this year’s vaccine — formulated before the new variant appeared — might be less effective, early data from the U.K. suggests the current shot performs comparably to past years.

Even though the flu vaccine is the best tool for reducing illness and death, CDC data shows that as of Dec. 13, 2025, less than half of Americans — 42.2% — reported receiving it.

But there’s still time. “It’s definitely not too late to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t had one yet,” said Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer in the CDC’s influenza division, speaking to NPR.

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According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this flu season has already seen over seven million cases, resulting in roughly 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths.Flu Hospitalizations Surge Week Over WeekIn the week ending December 20, there were 19,053 flu-related hospitalizations reported, more than 9,000 higher than the previous week — while influenza-linked deaths continue to trend upward, as per USA Today.In addition, five influenza-related pediatric deaths were reported during the second-to-last week of the year, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the 2025-2026 season to eight.The CDC also highlighted that “seasonal influenza activity is elevated and continues to increase across the country.”Flu: A New Variant Driving CasesMost of the newly reported infections are caused by a version of Influenza A (H3N2) called “subclade K,” first spotted in Australia over the summer, according to NPR.Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told NPR that “a large surge” tends to follow “anywhere we detect this virus.”“The timing isn’t much different from other flu seasons, but the number of cases and how quickly they’re rising is unusual for this time of year,” he explained.Common Flu SymptomsFlu symptoms usually come on quickly and can feel overwhelming. They may differ from one person to another, but there are some typical warning signs to look out for. If several of these symptoms appear together, it’s best to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and stay home to reduce the risk of passing the virus on to others.The most frequently reported symptoms are:Fever or a feverish feeling, often with chillsOngoing or worsening coughPain or irritation in the throatA blocked or runny noseMuscle soreness or body achesHeadachesSevere tiredness or exhaustionIn some cases, particularly in children, nausea, vomiting, or diarrheaUncertainty Around the Surge“We just don’t know where this upward trend will stop,” Pekosz added, noting that this is “the main concern in most medical communities right now.”Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told NPR that while the variant isn’t technically more severe than previous flu strains, people don’t seem to have the same level of immunity as they do against past strains.Flu Vaccination Remains the Best ProtectionMedical experts continue to stress that getting a flu shot is the most effective way to prevent illness this season. Although some worry this year’s vaccine — formulated before the new variant appeared — might be less effective, early data from the U.K. suggests the current shot performs comparably to past years.Even though the flu vaccine is the best tool for reducing illness and death, CDC data shows that as of Dec. 13, 2025, less than half of Americans — 42.2% — reported receiving it.But there’s still time. “It’s definitely not too late to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t had one yet,” said Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer in the CDC’s influenza division, speaking to NPR.