Flu cases in the US are climbing, and a new strain is hitting older adults harder

Flu cases in the US are climbing, and a new strain is hitting older adults harder

• Flu cases surge in the US, H3N2 strain hits seniors hardest.
• CDC: 4.6M flu cases, nearly 50K hospitalizations this season
• Experts: Vaccination reduces severe illness even if not a perfect match

Did our AI summary help?

Flu season in the United States is gaining momentum, and public health officials say cases are rising faster than many people might expect for this point in winter. Hospitals and clinics are reporting more flu-related visits, and a newly dominant strain has experts paying close attention, particularly when it comes to older adults, the Washington Post reported.

So far, the increase is not considered unusual. Flu seasons often surge quickly once colder weather sets in, and specialists say this year’s pattern still falls within historical norms. But the strain now spreading most widely — a version of influenza A known as H3N2 — is one that has historically been associated with more severe illness, especially among seniors.

A fast start, but not a peak yet

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-related hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths have all risen sharply in recent weeks. Even so, health officials say the season has likely not reached its peak, which often comes in January or February.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Brown University School of Public Health, said the pace of the increase may feel sudden, but it follows a familiar pattern.

“We often see flu seasons come in fast and furious,” she said. “This doesn’t look out of the ordinary yet.”

The Northeast has been among the first regions to feel the surge. In New York, state officials reported the highest weekly flu case count since records began more than two decades ago.

Covid remains quieter — for now

Unlike the early pandemic years, winter has not brought a major spike in covid cases. While the virus does not follow a strictly seasonal pattern, wastewater surveillance suggests that current levels remain lower than those seen during last summer’s wave.

“There are definitely people shedding covid,” said Marlene Wolfe, an environmental health researcher at Emory University. “But we’re not seeing the kind of surge that would suggest widespread transmission.”

Experts caution that covid trends are harder to track than before, as fewer people test or seek medical care. Still, the contrast with flu this winter is notable.

Why this flu strain matters

The H3N2 strain now circulating is not new in itself, but it emerged after vaccine manufacturers had finalized this season’s flu shots. That timing has raised concerns that the vaccine may not be as closely matched as hoped.

H3N2 strains have historically been linked to higher hospitalization and death rates among older adults. Similar strains have already caused early and severe outbreaks in countries including Japan, Canada and Britain.

In the United States, however, flu activity remains within expected levels, said Alicia Budd, a CDC epidemiologist who tracks influenza trends.

“We’re not seeing the kind of early explosion that some other countries experienced,” she said.

Vaccines still make a difference

Even with the mismatch, experts stress that flu shots remain one of the most effective tools available. While the vaccine may not always prevent infection, it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.

That protection is especially important for older adults, young children and people with underlying health conditions.

The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 4.6 million flu illnesses, nearly 50,000 hospitalizations and about 1,900 deaths nationwide.

Still, vaccination rates remain modest. Roughly 40 percent of U.S. adults have received a flu shot this season, with slightly lower coverage among children.

Politics and vaccine hesitancy

Flu vaccination has also become entangled in politics. The Trump administration has questioned the scope of childhood vaccine schedules and ordered a review of long-standing recommendations, including annual flu shots for children.

For paediatricians like Pamela Lindor of Bluebird Kids Health in Jacksonville, Florida, that scepticism is nothing new. She says she has already seen an uptick in children arriving with sudden fevers, fatigue and coughs — classic flu symptoms.

“It’s frustrating,” Lindor said. “We see how sick kids can get, and yet many parents still resist the flu shot even when they accept other vaccines.”

When children are diagnosed early, she prescribes antiviral medication to reduce the severity and length of illness.

What to expect next

Experts say flu cases are likely to continue rising in the weeks ahead. Whether this season becomes as severe as last year’s — which saw a record number of paediatric flu deaths — remains unclear.

For now, health officials are urging people to get vaccinated, stay home when sick and take symptoms seriously.

“The flu vaccine may not be perfect,” Nuzzo said, “but it can keep you out of the hospital. And that still matters — a lot.”