By Haifa Chairunisa
Influenza cases in the United States are rising sharply, raising concern among health officials as a new variant known as the “super flu” spreads. The variant, identified as Influenza A subclade K, has driven a rapid escalation early in the flu season, resulting in tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 7.5 million people had contracted influenza as of December 20. About 81,000 patients were hospitalized, while more than 3,100 deaths were recorded, including at least eight children.
Several states, including Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina, are reporting very high levels of influenza activity. The CDC said all major indicators, such as laboratory test positivity, outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and deaths, are trending upward nationwide.
Hospitalizations nearly doubled in the past week, with more than 19,000 people admitted for influenza, compared with about 9,900 the previous week.
“The flu season has really just begun, but the increase is happening very quickly,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He warned that the pace of transmission makes the severity of this season difficult to predict.
The surge has been largely driven by the dominance of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus, particularly the subclade K variant, which has previously caused spikes in cases in several countries. Osterholm said the variant differs enough from earlier strains to weaken existing immunity in the population.
While the subclade K variant is not specifically included in this year’s flu vaccine, the CDC said current vaccines remain effective against related strains and significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death.
At the same time, vaccination rates in the US have declined. By the end of November, only about 17 percent of children and 23 percent of adults had received a flu shot, lower than last year’s coverage.
Health authorities are again urging the public to get vaccinated, noting that influenza activity is expected to continue in the coming weeks. Osterholm emphasized that it is not too late to receive the vaccine, adding that while vaccines may not fully prevent infection, they play a crucial role in reducing severe outcomes.
With cases climbing rapidly and vaccination uptake falling, experts warn that this flu season could be among the most challenging in recent years.
Original article
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