Nearly three million people in the United States have gotten sick from the flu so far this season, new data shows.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest round of weekly flu data on Thursday. The agency revealed 2.9 million people have been sickened by the virus so far this season, while more than 127 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed. The CDC says that everyone six months and older should get an annual flu vaccine.
CDC data indicates there was an 8.1 upward trend in infections last week, as Americans returned home after traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The agency also updated its weekly flu surveillance report, indicating which states may have been hardest hit by the virus. The system monitors visits for respiratory illnesses that come with fever and cough or sore throat, according to the CDC website.
As of Dec. 6, several states had “high” levels of activity, including Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York, according to the CDC.
CDC map of flu activity by state as of December 6 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
New York City alone saw “very high” levels of activity, the agency indicated.
More states fell into the “moderate” range, including Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, South Carolina and Texas. Others were labeled “low,” including California, Missouri and Virginia.
Meanwhile, some states are doing even better. Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming were all included in the “minimum” category.
In addition to the 2.9 million infections, there were 30,000 hospitalizations and 1,200 deaths from the flu, the CDC said. That includes two pediatric deaths reported last week, according to agency data.
Experts recommend that everyone six months and older get a flu shot this season (Getty Images)
These data come as schools across the nation are preparing for a fast-spreading flu variant: the H3N2 subclade “K” strain.
The strain has led to difficult early flu seasons around the world, including in Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom, according to UCHealth, a Colorado-based health care system.
This strain is particularly unpleasant for some patients, experts warned.
“You generally develop [symptoms] about a day to four days after you’re exposed, and you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck,” ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula said last month. “It’s different than a cold, so you have a fever, muscle aches, headache, chills, sore throat, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, and maybe even vomiting.”
Dr. Michelle Barron, UCHealth’s senior medical director for infection control and prevention, said in a statement that patients should not skip the flu vaccine this year, even though there may be a “disagreement” for the “K” strain.
“It’s never too late. Now that we’re seeing an increase in flu cases, it’s a good time to go get your vaccine because the numbers will continue to rise,” Barron said. “You will need that additional level of protection as more people get sick and more people will travel or have visitors.”