Americans are being urged to get flu shots as health officials reported an early increase in seasonal flu activity, with hospitalizations, positive test results and emergency room visits increasing in recent weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 4,811 laboratory-confirmed flu hospitalizations nationwide in the week ending October 17, while its surveillance network recorded the highest hospitalization rate at this point in the season since 2010-11.
“Early season influenza activity is currently higher than typically observed at this time of year,” the CDC said in its latest weekly surveillance report.
News week contacted the CDC by email on Saturday for comment.
Separate data from Walgreens suggests flu season may arrive earlier than normal. The drugstore chain said in a statement this week that flu activity is tracking about four weeks ahead of recent seasons, based on testing, prescription and retail sales data.
“It’s an early start to the season, and in terms of the primary value of the vaccine, it’s in preventing serious illness, including hospitalization. It’s too early to know the trajectory of the season, but people should get vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. News week.
What flu virus spreads?
Almost all flu viruses identified so far this season have been of the H1N1 type. Although the virus has undergone genetic changes over time, the CDC says it is not a newly emerged strain and remains a descendant of the H1N1 virus responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic. CDC laboratory surveillance showed that 239 of 241 influenza A samples analyzed during the week ending October 17 were H1N1, indicating that the virus is extremely dominant in circulation this season. They don’t detect H3N2 subclade K, or the so-called super flu, which surfaced last year.
Researchers continue to study the evolution of currently circulating viruses and whether these changes could have implications later in the season. Health officials say it’s still too early to determine whether this season will ultimately prove more severe than previous years.
Map shows where flu activity is increasing
The latest map from the CDC shows varying levels of flu activity across states for the week ending Oct. 17, as health officials continue to monitor places where transmission is accelerating most quickly as colder weather approaches.
The CDC map measures flu-like illnesses rather than confirmed flu cases, meaning it captures people seeking medical care for symptoms consistent with the flu, including fever, cough and sore throat.
Louisiana and Hawaii reported “moderate” levels of influenza-like illness during this period. Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon and Washington have reached a “low” level of activity, while the remaining states remain at the minimum level.
Why this flu season is starting early
Although case concentrations are not yet high, the unusually high number of hospitalizations has some health experts concerned.
They warn that flu seasons can vary greatly from year to year: Some start slowly before accelerating later in winter, while others start earlier and spread more quickly.
The agency stressed that it is still too early to determine how severe the season will be. However, the upward trend in hospitalizations and other indicators has drawn attention as activity is already exceeding historical expectations at this point in the season.
Should you get your flu shot now?
The CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.
According to the agency, flu vaccines are widely available and September and October remain the preferred months for most people to get vaccinated before the winter peaks.
Health officials say it is too early to know whether the genetic changes seen in current H1N1 viruses will impact the vaccine’s effectiveness. The CDC notes that surveillance is ongoing and experts are still evaluating which viruses might predominate as the season progresses.
For now, federal health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the best tool available to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from the flu.
What happens next?
Influenza activity generally continues to increase through late fall before reaching its seasonal peak during the winter months.
The coming weeks will determine whether the current increase represents the start of an unusually early flu season or a temporary increase in activity. Health officials will monitor trends in hospitalizations, regional spread and continued dominance of H1N1 as more surveillance data becomes available.
Patients who experience fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle pain, or fatigue should seek medical attention.
Newsweek Reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story.
Gn Health
