Flu Season Second Peak Hitting as Kids Drive New Infections
Flu season was looking like it might be winding down. Then the CDC dropped new data on January 30, and nope—infections are climbing again.
"We are heading up a second peak of flu season," said Caitlin Rivers, a Johns Hopkins University epidemiologist. The first peak hit right around New Year's, then cases dropped for a couple weeks. And now they're going back up.
The reason? Kids.
"Now, unfortunately, we're seeing increases again, particularly in school-age children," Rivers said. Kids get sick, bring it home, and suddenly the whole household's out. It's that simple.
Where Things Stand
There have been at least 20 million illnesses, 270,000 hospitalizations, and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Kids under 18 hit their highest peak weekly hospitalization rate since 2010-2011.
Childhood flu deaths reached 52 this season after eight more kids died the week ending January 24. And here's the gut punch: about 90% of the kids who died and had known vaccine status weren't vaccinated.
"We're not out of the flu winter yet," said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Not even close.
Why This Season Is So Brutal
The dominant strain, influenza A(H3N2), mutated into subclade K and made itself highly transmissible. That's been driving most of the damage. Flu vaccines still help, especially against severe infections, but this mutation made the season significantly worse.
But here's what nobody's really talking about. Influenza B has been quietly building in the background. Dr. Schaffner says it tends to get more prominent toward the end of flu season. CDC data is already showing slight increases nationally. So just as subclade K starts fading, influenza B could pick right up where it left off.
The Sun Belt is also lagging behind the rest of the country, meaning more infections are still coming for those states.
Don't Be a Hero
Get vaccinated if you haven't. Dr. Rust says it's not too late, but it's getting close. Wash your hands. Stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing.
And if you're sick, stay home. "If you're sick, don't be a hero," Dr. Rust said. "Don't spread your germs."
People 65 and older, anyone with underlying medical conditions, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women are at the highest risk. N95 or KN95 masks help in crowded settings.
Flu season peaked, dipped, and is now heading back up with kids leading the charge and another strain waiting in the wings. Unfortunately, this one's not done with us yet.
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