Flu Season Is Here—and It's the Worst One We've Seen in 13 Years, According to the CDC

Madeline Buiano
·2 min read
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woman sick in bed
woman sick in bed

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Colder weather brings with it a lot to look forward to—the holidays, more time with loved ones, and snow days—but one thing no one is excited for? Flu season. While we typically don't have to worry about incidents of the illness peaking until December or January, new federal health data shows that influenza has arrived about six weeks early this year.

According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year's flu season is more severe than it has been in 13 years. The government agency estimates that there have been at least 880,000 flu illnesses, 6,900 hospitalizations, and 360 deaths from the flu so far this year. Additionally, the first flu-related pediatric death of the season was reported this week.

Related: Related: How to Distinguish Symptoms of the Common Cold, Flu, and COVID-19 This Winter

"It's unusual, but we're coming out of an unusual COVID pandemic that has really affected influenza and other respiratory viruses that are circulating," Lynnette Brammer, epidemiologist and head of the CDC's domestic influenza surveillance team told the Washington Post.

Influenza activity is highest in the U.S. in the southeast and south central areas of the country, but it continues to spread to other regions. The CDC found that the cumulative hospitalization rate is higher than the rate observed in week 42 during previous flu seasons dating back to 2010 to 2011. In fact, hospitalizations haven't been this high since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, which took place in 2009.

The agency says that getting the annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu and prevent serious outcomes if you catch the illness. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get the flu vaccine annually, but notes there are also prescription flu antiviral drugs that can treat the illness.