Flu and COVID-19 infections continue to surge in the U.S. after the holiday season. High or very high levels of respiratory illnesses were reported in 38 states last week, an increase from 31 states in the week before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Around 20,066 people were hospitalized with influenza and seven pediatric deaths associated with the infection were reported last week, the CDC said in its latest report.
There have been at least 10 million illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations and 6,500 deaths from flu so far this season. According to CDC, 27 pediatric deaths were tied to flu.
The respiratory illnesses include not just flu but also COVID-19 and other winter viruses.
“We expect it to be elevated for several more weeks,” said Alicia Budd, an epidemiologist with CDC’s influenza division.
However, it is too soon to predict if holiday gatherings have contributed to the spike in respiratory illnesses.
The country is facing a second rise in COVID-19 after a smaller peak in September, said Lauren Ancel Meyers of the University of Texas, who runs a team that forecasts the trends in respiratory illnesses.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about when and how high this current surge will peak,” added Meyers.
The hospitalizations from the coronavirus have been at a much lower level compared to the rates in the last three winters. But, according to CDC data, the COVID-19 virus still puts more people in the hospitals than the flu.
Flu typically peaks between December and February. Meyers expects the influenza season to peak by the end of this month.
Although the cases are surging, the comforting fact is that the flu cases stem from a strain that typically causes fewer deaths and hospitalizations compared to other variants. Furthermore, the current flu vaccines are well-aligned with the circulating strain.
Nevertheless, vaccination rates are low this year, particularly for COVID-19. By Dec. 23, approximately 44% of U.S. adults received flu…
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