Madison, Wis.-based UW Health has diagnosed 821 children with the flu this season, representing 10 times as many children as last year, reports NBC affiliate WMTV.
The health system recorded 125 positive flu tests last week alone. This figure far surpasses the 76 total flu cases UW Health saw at this point in the 2018-19 season.
About 30 children have needed to stay at the hospital for more than 24 hours, UW Health spokesperson Emily Kumlien told WMTV.
The health system has also treated 929 adult flu patients, which represents a fivefold increase over last year.
Nationwide, the CDC estimates flu has caused 29 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths this season.