Flu activity is continuing to rise across the country for a fifth week in a row, with 5,753 patients admitted to hospitals due to confirmed flu cases, according to CDC data published Dec. 8.
The new number of weekly hospital admissions went up by 1,485 from a total of just 4,268 the week prior.
Here are seven more updates from the latest CDC flu report:
- Outpatient respiratory illness visits are also above the baseline average for the fifth straight week, according to the CDC.
- There were four additional pediatric deaths in the most recent week, bringing the 2023-2024 total to 12 deaths in children due to flu.
- Updated seasonal estimates from the CDC state there have been at least 2.6 million illnesses, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 1,600 deaths from flu this year.
- Right now, influenza A continues to be the dominant strain, making up around 80% of cases, while influenza B accounts for 20%.
- Louisiana and South Carolina still lead the nation in the highest percentage of current flu activity.
- New York City and 13 other states are also reporting high flu activity, including: California, New Mexico, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado, North Carolina, Nevada, Texas, Florida and New Jersey.
- However, 30 states are still reporting minimal to low flu activity at this time.