The 2024-2025 flu season in the US is proving to be one of the worst in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and significant strain on healthcare facilities across the country, Axios reports.
As of February 8, 2025, 370,000 to 820,000 people have been hospitalized due to the flu, with a particularly concerning rise in severe cases, especially among young children.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this flu season is classified as high severity, with 29 million estimated cases—the highest since the 2009-2010 season. So far, the flu has caused 16,000 deaths, and the number of hospitalizations is on track to surpass the previous high recorded during the 2017-2018 flu season.
Nearly every state is reporting high or very high flu activity, with roughly 32% of flu tests coming back positive, and some areas experiencing nearly 40% positivity.
The flu virus this year has led to a higher-than-usual number of severe complications, particularly pneumonia among adults, many of whom require intubation and ventilation. There have also been serious neurological complications reported in a small number of pediatric cases, further raising concerns about the virus’s impact on children’s health. So far, there have been 68 flu-related pediatric deaths, with pediatric deaths already surpassing those from the previous season. Experts are concerned this year may see worse outcomes than the record 200 flu-related child deaths of the 2022-2023 season.
Several factors are contributing to the increased severity of the flu this season. One key issue is that flu vaccination rates have been declining in recent years, particularly among children. Additionally, the 2024-2025 flu vaccine has proven to be less effective than usual, with an effectiveness rate of 35% compared to the typical 45%. Experts suggest that reduced exposure to the flu virus during the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to lower immunity in the population.
Healthcare providers are feeling the strain of this severe flu season, with emergency rooms and outpatient facilities becoming increasingly overcrowded. As Carol McLay, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, pointed out, this flu season has led to more hospitalizations and deaths than COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
In addition to the seasonal flu, avian flu is spreading across US poultry and dairy farms, raising concerns about potential cross-species transmission that could lead to a pandemic strain. Public health experts are closely monitoring both flu and bird flu trends to anticipate future risks.
Though it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, health officials are urging those who haven’t already been vaccinated to do so, as it remains the most effective way to reduce the severity of the flu and prevent hospitalizations and deaths. Experts emphasize that vaccination, even if not completely effective, can still significantly reduce the severity of illness.
Public health officials are also working to address challenges in global flu data sharing due to the US exit from the World Health Organization’s FluNet platform, which has disrupted efforts to track flu trends globally. This has implications for both seasonal flu vaccination efforts and preparedness for future outbreaks.
