Influenza is on the rise in much of the U.S. after last year’s nearly non-existent levels of flu transmission.
That’s according to the latest flu report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday, which also noted that flu-related hospitalizations have increased each week for the past seven weeks.
By comparison, the CDC’s lowest estimate for the annual flu between 2010 and 2020 included 9 million cases, 140,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths.
While influenza activity has increased across much of the country, the South Central and South Central U.S. has seen its highest levels of flu activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Some schools in these areas have been closed due to a surge in the flu.
Vaccinations are still worth it. However, “even if it’s less effective than normal, it still can provide some protection, perhaps reducing symptoms, or prolonging the flu.”
Overall, the flu shot is known to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death from the flu, and the CDC still recommends people get the flu shot, even late in the flu season. The CDC estimates that the flu vaccine prevented about 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations during the 2019-2020 season.