#17,193
While our unusually early flu season appears to have peaked, and is slowly declining across much of the nation, winter is far from over, and it is not unusual to see multiple waves of flu in any given season (see chart below).
The CDC reports another 17 pediatric deaths due to influenza this week, bringing the total to 47. While a reportable disease, surveillance likely captures only a percentage of pediatric deaths (see 2018's Why Flu Fatality Numbers Are So Hard To Determine).
- Seasonal influenza activity remains high but is declining in most areas.
- Of influenza A viruses detected and subtyped during week 50, 77.8% were influenza A(H3N2) and 22.2% were influenza A(H1N1).
- Seventeen influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week, for a total of 47 pediatric flu deaths reported so far this season.
- CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 18 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths from flu.
- The cumulative hospitalization rate in the FluSurv-NET system was more than 6 times higher than the highest cumulative in-season hospitalization rate observed for week 50 during previous seasons going back to 2010-2011. However, this in-season rate is still lower than end-of-season hospitalization rates for all but 4 pre-COVID-19-pandemic seasons going back to 2010-11.
- The number of flu hospital admissions reported in the HHS Protect system decreased nationally from the week prior for the second week in a row.
- The majority of influenza viruses tested are in the same genetic subclade as and antigenically similar to the influenza viruses included in this season’s influenza vaccine.
- All viruses collected and evaluated this season have been susceptible to the influenza antivirals oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir, and baloxavir.
- An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Vaccination helps prevent infection and can also prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
- CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine annually. Now is a good time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already.
- CDC issued Interim Guidance for Clinicians to Prioritize Antiviral Treatment of Influenza in the Setting of Reduced Availability of Oseltamivir through the Health Alert Network (HAN) on December 15, 2022.
It isn't too late to get a flu shot, and face masks and hand sanitizer can add prudent additional layers of protection.
