US flu activity still high, with 8 more pediatric deaths
The 2024-25 flu season saw a total of 289 child deaths—the
most reported in a non-pandemic flu season since the CDC began tracking
pediatric flu deaths in 2004. Of the 79 children who died of influenza this
season and had known vaccination status, roughly 90% occurred in those who were
unvaccinated.
Flu activity remains moderate (11 jurisdictions) to high or
very high (25) across the nation, although indicators are stable or trending
downward. Only a few eastern states are reporting likely growing case numbers.
Health care visits are holding steady for the sixth week in a row, at 4.4%,
while clinical lab positivity is at 17.9%, down from 19.8% the week
before.
Influenza A continues to dominate, although it is steadily
losing ground to influenza B. Of the 1,354 influenza A(H3N2) viruses that
underwent additional genetic characterization, 92.4% have belonged to subclade
K, which has mutations that allow it to evade immunity from this season’s flu
vaccine formula.
Weekly flu hospitalizations declined slightly, from 14,940
the week before to 13,785. The cumulative flu-related hospitalization rate
(73.3 per 100,000 people) is the third highest since the 2010-11 season.
Children have the second-highest cumulative hospitalization rate for that
age-group since that same season.
So far this season, the CDC has recorded at least 25 million
flu-related illnesses, 330,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths. Flu-related deaths made
up 0.8% of all deaths this week.
RSV most severe in infants, preschoolers
In other respiratory virus news, the
amount of acute illness causing people to seek health care is moderate.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, including emergency department
visits and hospitalizations among infants and preschoolers, remains high in
many areas of the country. RSV test positivity is at 8.6%, and related deaths
made up 0.1% of all deaths.
COVID-19 levels are decreasing overall but growing or likely
growing in some eastern and southern states, with 4.3% overall test positivity.
COVID-19 deaths made up 0.5% of all deaths.
WastewaterSCAN reported high
levels of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, RSV, and human metapneumovirus in
wastewater last week.
