Flu season is the most intense in 15 years

The U.S. flu season is the most intense since at least 2009-2010, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the percentage of doctor office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. The CDC estimates at least 24 million people have had seasonal flu this season. Nearly 49,000 patients were admitted to hospitals with the flu for the week ending Feb. 1. Emergency department visits due to the flu remain classified as “very high” and “increasing,” the agency said. ED visits for COVID-19 are “low” and “decreasing,” while visits for respiratory syncytial virus are “moderate” and “decreasing.” Overall respiratory illness activity causing people to seek health care is “very high.” (MedPage Today article, 2/9/25)