The United States is dealing with one of the worst influenza seasons in years, with over 50,000 patients admitted to hospitals last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
The current flu season, which has infected an estimated 29 to 51 million Americans and hospitalized up to 820,000 since October 2024, is now classified by the CDC as “high severity.”
The last time this designation was given was 15 years ago, during the 2017-2018 season.
According to the health agency, the second-to-last week of January 2024 was the first time that the percentage of influenza deaths (1.7 percent) was higher than the percentage of COVID-19 deaths.
However, the percentage of influenza deaths has continued to increase and reached 2.6 percent for the first week of February 2025.
With the flu epidemic peaking, the CDC recommends everyone six months and older get an annual flu shot, even this late in the season.
Those who currently have the flu are advised to see a doctor and take prescription flu antiviral drugs.
“Those should be started as early as possible and are especially important for patients at higher risk for severe illness,” the CDC said.
A serious case of the flu can be a heavy burden on the human body, especially for elderly people or those with pre-existing conditions, including heart disease.
According to the CDC, since October 2024 there have been between 16,000 to 79,000 flu deaths in the United States. The wide range of this estimate is due to the fact that many who get sick with the flu will not seek medical care or be tested for influenza.
“This is why we use mathematical models to estimate the impact of flu on the population,” the CDC said.
The CDC has been using the same mathematical model since 2010, relying on a database that covers roughly 9 percent of the total U.S. population.