As flu season intensifies, health officials are urging the public to take preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus. With flu activity reaching high or very high levels in at least 44 states, experts emphasize that getting vaccinated can still offer crucial protection against severe illness.
Key Highlights:
- Influenza cases are rising sharply across most of the United States, leading some schools to temporarily shut down due to widespread outbreaks.
- A significant factor in the virus’s rapid spread may be low vaccination rates, particularly among children.
- While the flu vaccine does not guarantee complete immunity, it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and flu-related fatalities.
As flu season continues to intensify across the United States, a growing number of Americans are experiencing symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, coughing, body aches, and fever. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that at least 44 states, along with the District of Columbia, are seeing high or very high levels of influenza activity. This season has already resulted in an estimated 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths.
Flu Cases Surge, Leading to School Closures
The CDC’s respiratory virus update from February 7 indicates that emergency department visits related to flu remain at a “very high” level and are continuing to rise. In contrast, COVID-19-related visits are on the decline, and RSV cases are showing a moderate yet decreasing trend.
Children appear to be particularly vulnerable this flu season, with many schools in states such as Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia opting for temporary closures to curb the spread.
“Flu cases are traditionally expected to rise after children return to school from the holidays in January, which may explain the current spike in cases,” explains Asif Noor, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. The CDC has reported that flu-related emergency visits are highest among children, and nearly 60 pediatric deaths have been recorded so far this season.
Is the Flu Worse This Year?
While the flu appears to be hitting hard, some experts suggest that this season may not be drastically different from previous years. According to the CDC, the percentage of doctor’s office visits for flu-like illness is currently at its highest level since the 2009–2010 flu season. However, despite the current spike, some infectious disease specialists believe that the overall season may not be significantly worse than last year, which saw around 40 million flu illnesses.
“The flu activity we’re seeing now seems to be on par with pre-COVID-19 flu seasons. The pandemic may have disrupted people’s perception of what a typical flu season looks like,” says Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore.
Lower Vaccination Rates May Be a Contributing Factor
Dr. Adalja notes that lower vaccination rates may be playing a role in the increasing number of flu cases and severe illnesses this year.
“Influenza vaccine rates have slipped since COVID-19, as vaccine hesitancy has extended beyond COVID vaccines to include other vaccines, such as flu shots,” he says.
According to CDC data, only about 44 percent of adults aged 18 and older have received a flu shot this season, a slight decrease from the 45 percent recorded last year. During the 2020–21 flu season, vaccination rates were over 50 percent.
Vaccination rates among children are also down. As of January 25, only 44.5 percent of children aged six months to 18 years had received a flu shot, compared to 49.1 percent at the same time last year and 58.3 percent in January 2020. This decline may be one reason flu activity is surging in schools.
Influenza A vs. Influenza B: What’s the Difference?
Each year, flu vaccines are designed to protect against the primary circulating strains of both Influenza A and Influenza B. These two types of flu viruses are similar but differ in their protein structures.
Influenza A is responsible for the majority of flu cases and tends to cause more severe illness than Influenza B. According to Dr. Noor, about 98 percent of flu cases this season are caused by Influenza A, while only 2 percent are linked to Influenza B.
Predicting which specific strains will circulate each season is challenging, and slight mutations in the flu virus can sometimes reduce vaccine effectiveness.
How Effective Is This Year’s Flu Vaccine?
Despite some mismatches between this season’s vaccine and circulating strains, experts still emphasize the importance of vaccination in reducing severe illness.
“The typical flu vaccine effectiveness ranges between 40 to 60 percent,” says Saahir Khan, MD, PhD, an infectious disease specialist with Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. “This year’s vaccine is on the lower end of that range, likely around 40 percent.”
Even though flu season may last until May or June, experts urge people to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.
“It’s not too late to get vaccinated,” says Luis Ostrosky, MD, chief of infectious diseases at UTHealth in Houston. “Even if this year’s vaccine is slightly less effective than in past years, it still significantly lowers the risk of severe illness, hospitalizations, and flu-related complications, such as stroke and heart attack.”
Recognizing Flu Symptoms and Seeking Treatment Early
Early detection of flu symptoms can help individuals manage the illness more effectively. Common symptoms include:
- Muscle aches, especially in the back, arms, and legs
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Chills and sweating
- Headache
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Fatigue and weakness
Dr. Khan notes that this season, some patients have also reported gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea, alongside traditional flu symptoms.
Because many respiratory illnesses share similar symptoms, it can be difficult to differentiate between the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. “The common cold is usually mild with a runny nose, but when fever and cough are present, it could be COVID, RSV, or the flu,” explains Dr. Ostrosky.
Testing is the most reliable way to confirm a flu diagnosis. New at-home combination tests can differentiate between Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19 with a single nasal swab, providing results in minutes.
Treatment Options: Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medications
Most individuals recover from the flu within a few days to two weeks with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for symptom relief.
However, prescription antiviral medications can help shorten the illness and reduce the severity if taken early. Available antiviral flu medications include:
- Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Peramivir (Rapivab)
- Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza)
“These treatments are most beneficial when taken within the first 48 hours of symptom onset,” Dr. Khan advises. “They’re particularly important for individuals at higher risk of complications, such as seniors, young children, those with chronic conditions, and individuals with a high BMI.”
Preventing Flu and Reducing Its Spread
Although flu activity varies by region, no area is entirely safe from exposure. Dr. Adalja points out that flu rates can be influenced by factors such as population density, travel patterns, and cold weather that encourages indoor gatherings.
To minimize the risk of infection, Dr. Noor recommends taking simple yet effective precautions:
“Wearing masks and practicing good hand hygiene are two of the most effective methods for preventing the spread of flu,” he says. “Additionally, staying home when sick and avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals can help reduce transmission.”
While mask usage has declined since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts agree that wearing masks in crowded places remains an effective way to protect against respiratory viruses.
As flu season continues, health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination, early detection, and preventive measures to reduce the impact of the virus on communities across the country.