Flu Season Hits Hard: What's Going On and Why You Should Care

Flu cases in the U. S. have shot up over the holidays, and experts are warning that this season might be particularly tough. Recent data shows that flu activity is already worse than last winter's severe outbreak in many ways. COVID-19 cases are also rising, but they're still not as common as flu cases. The flu virus spreading right now could be causing more problems. The type of flu virus called A H3N2 is known for causing serious illness, especially in older adults. This season, most flu cases are this type, and over 90% of them are a new version that's different from what's in this year's flu shots. It's too early to know how much of an issue this will be, but flu seasons usually peak in January or February.Last year's flu season was already bad, with the highest hospitalization rates in 15 years and a record number of child deaths. This year, nine child deaths have been reported so far, and the number of kids visiting the emergency room with flu symptoms has already surpassed last season's peak. Doctor visits for flu-like illnesses have also gone up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 11 million people have gotten sick, 120, 000 have been hospitalized, and 5, 000 have died from the flu this season. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older who hasn't gotten a flu shot yet should do so.