Flu season has arrived on schedule in the U. S. after taking a year off. Hospitalizations for influenza are rising and two child deaths have been reported nationally. Last year’s flu season was the lowest on record, likely because of COVID 19 measures: school closures, distancing, masks and canceled travel. Those COVID precautions likely prevented the spread of influenza. According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this winter will bring more of a normal flu season. During last year’s unusually light flu season, one child died. In contrast, 199 children died from flu two years ago and 144 the year before that.
In the newest data, the most intense flu activity was in the Nation’s Capital, Washington D. C. and the number of states with high flu activity rose from three to seven. In CDC figures released this week, states with high flu activity included Kansas, New Mexico, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia and North Dakota.
Health experts say it’s still not too late to get a flu shot, since influenza typically peaks between now and February, but activity can last as late as May.
