The United States is grappling with one of the most severe flu seasons in recent years, with hospitalization rates surpassing those seen during certain peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, CNN reports.
Health officials report a concerning uptick in not only the number of flu cases but also in the severity of complications.
This flu season, doctors are seeing an alarming rise in neurologic issues in children, including acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), a rare and dangerous brain complication that causes swelling and tissue death, particularly affecting the thalamus. Experts note that this condition, while unusual, appears to be more frequent this year, with some doctors reporting a significant increase in ANE cases compared to previous seasons. ANE can be fatal in up to 50% of cases, making it a critical concern for pediatric care.
In adults, a troubling trend has emerged: patients are developing severe pneumonia caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after contracting the flu. This flesh-eating bacteria can lead to extensive lung damage, requiring intensive care and long-term recovery. The situation is particularly dire as doctors report a growing number of pneumonia cases, which are often complicated by respiratory failure, even among younger adults in their 40s.
Hospitals across the country are under significant pressure as flu cases continue to rise. The week ending February 1 saw hospitalization rates of 14.4 per 100,000 people, surpassing the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations during the Delta wave in 2021. While flu-related hospitalizations are still lower than the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of flu-related admissions has surpassed COVID-19 admissions for the first time this season, signaling a strain on the healthcare system.
Flu positivity rates are also alarmingly high, with about 33% of flu tests returning positive results across the US, with some clinics in Washington seeing rates as high as 50%. This surge is being driven by two primary strains of influenza A—H1N1 and H3N2—which are circulating in nearly equal amounts this season. Experts note that this balance is unusual, as one strain typically dominates, making this year’s flu season more unpredictable and harder to combat.
In addition to the severe symptoms seen in hospitals, the flu has led to significant numbers of deaths. As of late January, the flu had caused 1,302 deaths in just two weeks, surpassing the 1,066 deaths attributed to COVID-19 during the same period.
Health professionals stress the importance of vaccination as the best defense against the flu, although fewer than half of adults and children have received their flu shot this season. While the vaccine does not guarantee immunity, it significantly reduces the severity of the illness and helps prevent complications like pneumonia and encephalopathy. Medical experts encourage individuals who haven’t yet been vaccinated to do so, as there is still time to reduce the risk of severe outcomes.
With the flu season expected to last for several more weeks, doctors also recommend other protective measures, including frequent handwashing, good ventilation, and wearing high-quality masks in crowded settings. Antiviral medications can also reduce the risk of severe illness if administered early after infection.
