Cases of influenza have increased across the United States in recent weeks, with nearly 3 million cases so far this season, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Dec. 11.
The CDC figures show that positive clinical lab tests for influenza have increased to 8.1 percent for the week ending Dec. 6, the most recent update available. Positive lab tests for influenza stood at around 7.1 percent for the previous week, according to CDC data.
“Seasonal influenza activity continues to increase in most areas of the country,” the CDC said.
“Some indicators are elevated, but severity indicators remain low, and flu season is just starting.”
The CDC estimated that around 2.9 million illnesses, 30,000 hospitalizations, and 1,200 deaths have been associated with influenza so far during this season. As for children, the first flu-associated death was reported to the CDC this week.
The percentage of positive tests, outpatient and emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths increased for the week ending Dec. 6, compared with the previous one, according to the agency. That’s roughly the same as the past few influenza seasons, the CDC said.
More broadly, respiratory activity across the United States was described by the CDC in a Dec. 12 update as “low,” the second-lowest of five levels. Emergency department COVID-19 visits are “very low” nationwide but increasing, and RSV emergency visits are low but increasing, the agency said.
WastewaterSCAN, a private monitoring group, said in a Dec. 11 post, however, that COVID-19 levels are “high,” while RSV, influenza, and other respiratory infections are low.
The CDC reiterated its recommendation that people aged 6 months and older who haven’t received a flu vaccine this season get one. As of the most recent update, around 38 percent of U.S. children have received the vaccine, and some 40 percent of adults have received the shot, CDC figures show.
For COVID-19, few people are getting the vaccine this year. About 7 percent of children and 15 percent of adults have gotten this season’s version of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.
In October, the health agency stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for anyone, leaving the choice up to patients. Several doctors’ groups and scientific organizations argued against downplaying vaccination recommendations.
In the United Kingdom, flu hospital stays increased by over half in one week, the country’s National Health Service (NHS) said on Dec. 11.
Around 2,660 patients on average were hospitalized with influenza each day in the last week nationwide, which the NHS said is a record this time of year. It also said that the number is up 55 percent over the previous week.
“NHS chiefs have warned the total has already increased sharply since the week covered by the data, with no peak in sight,” the NHS said.
Influenza activity also rose in the European Union compared with the previous two flu seasons, according to a recent report from EU health officials.
“Increases in hospitalization are being observed in some countries, affecting all age groups, but primarily in adults aged 65 years and above,” the report said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.