Tuesday 06/January/2026 – 01:52 PM
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the 2025-2026 flu season extremely severe, with infections reaching 11 million cases, according to Reuters.
Flu season warning
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that seasonal influenza activity remained high and increased in the last week of December, and the agency classified for the first time the 2025-2026 season as very severe.
Estimates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the season’s toll so far has reached at least 11 million cases of illness, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths.
Spread of influenza cases
In the 2024-2025 season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 5.3 million illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths in the week ending December 28, 2024.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one child death from influenza last week, bringing the total deaths in the 2025-2026 season to nine, and said influenza activity is likely to continue for several weeks.
Influenza A(H3N2) virus remains the dominant strain, accounting for more than 91% of influenza A cases classified by subtype, the CDC said.
Of the 389 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since September 28, 2025, and genetically characterized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90.5% belong to subclade K, a type of A(H3N2).
Hospitals admitted about 33,301 patients with influenza in the week ending Dec. 27, a sharp increase from previous weeks, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed.
Outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses rose to 8.2% of total health care visits, exceeding baseline seasonal rates.
