United States: Amid the relentless grip of winter, influenza rates in the United States have surged to their highest point in a decade and a half, with a second viral wave exacerbating the outbreak, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC’s most recent Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report reveals that 7.8 percent of medical visits were attributed to respiratory ailments—a peak not witnessed since the swine flu pandemic of 2009. The statistics indicate an alarming upward trajectory across multiple flu-related metrics, including a 31.6 percent surge in positive flu diagnoses, a staggering 48,661 individuals hospitalized this week alone, and fatalities attributed to influenza reaching 2 percent of reported cases.
“Seasonal influenza activity remains heightened and continues its relentless ascent nationwide,” the CDC stated, according to USA Today.
For the first time this flu season, the overall burden of respiratory illnesses has escalated to “very high” activity levels despite a noticeable decline in COVID-19 cases in recent months. States currently categorized under “very high” flu prevalence include Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine, per the government agency’s assessment.
Flu Infections Escalating Across Multiple States
As of February 4, CDC projections suggest influenza is proliferating or poised for further expansion in 15 states, showing signs of decline in six states while remaining relatively stable in 27. Kentucky, in particular, faces an escalating epidemic probability of 92.45%, the CDC reported.
Dr. Kris Bryant, associate medical director at the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, conveyed to the Courier-Journal—an affiliate of the USA TODAY Network—that influenza has significantly impacted children in Kentucky, especially within school environments and early childhood education centers.
“This week alone, over 2,900 children have tested positive,” Bryant stated. “And the week’s not over yet—that number is still climbing.”
Additionally, Bryant pointed to alarmingly low immunization rates among children in Kentucky this flu season, a concerning trend that has persisted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to USA Today.
“Less than 30 percent of children in Jefferson County have received the flu vaccine this year,” she disclosed. “On a national scale, immunization rates are declining, with fewer children receiving flu shots each year since 2020. As of late January, CDC reports indicate that less than half of all children have been vaccinated against influenza, with the national rate hovering around 44 percent.”
Flu Vaccination Rates Decline to Six-Year Low
According to CDC data, childhood influenza vaccination rates have plummeted to their lowest levels in six years. In 2025, fewer than half of the US population has received an influenza vaccine, signaling a concerning lapse in preventive measures.
Recognizing Influenza Symptoms
The CDC outlines the following as hallmark symptoms of influenza:
- Elevated body temperature or chills
- Persistent cough
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion or excessive mucus build-up
- Muscle soreness or bodily discomfort
- Headaches
- Fatigue
In some cases, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, particularly among children.
Rising Influenza Cases Coincide with Avian Flu Concerns
While the current surge bears a resemblance to the spike witnessed in 2009, laboratory analyses confirm that the circulating strains align with routine seasonal variants rather than an emergent zoonotic mutation. Nevertheless, the flu uptick coincides with the continued spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, which has contributed to soaring egg prices and outbreaks among poultry populations, according to reports by USA Today.
Despite this, the CDC maintains that the general public remains at a “low” risk of contracting bird flu. However, a 65-year-old Louisiana resident with underlying health complications succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, younger agricultural workers infected with the pathogen exhibited only mild symptoms and made full recoveries.
Health officials emphasize that individuals handling infected animals remain at the highest risk and should don protective gear at all times when working in potentially contaminated environments, per CDC recommendations.