Flu is hitting hard in the Southeast and the West and other states should prepare, doctors warn

With students returning to school after the holiday break, health officials warn that this year's flu season could be particularly severe in some regions, notably the Southeast and parts of the West. In 33 states, high or extremely high numbers of influenza-like illnesses have been reported. Since the beginning of the flu season in October 2023, there have been approximately 4,500 deaths related to the flu, including 20 children.

Louisiana has been particularly affected, with the flu outbreak starting to escalate around Thanksgiving. Roughly 20% of critical patients in this state are suffering from influenza, according to Dr. David Janz, the director of critical care at University Medical Center New Orleans. He suggests this might be Louisiana's worst flu season since the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, which resulted in an estimated 12,000 deaths nationwide.

Janz urges other states to prepare for possible influenza spikes, as the virus is spreading quickly simultaneously with Covid and other respiratory viruses. Despite being most prominent in the south, it is not confined to this region, as increases in cases are being reported in the Northeast and the Midwest.

Unlike last year when flu cases had already peaked and then started to decline by this time, this year's flu cases are steadily increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate at least 7.1 million flu illnesses and 73,000 hospitalizations this season.

However, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the head of the CDC, pointed out that there hasn't been any significant strain on the hospital system due to the increase in flu or other respiratory illnesses. The majority of severe flu cases are amongst people above 65 years of age and children, particularly those aged five or below.

Three children succumbed to flu in North Carolina, which was equal to the total number of pediatric deaths in the state during last year's entire flu season. Dr. Jonathan Miller, the chief of primary care pediatrics for Nemours Children's Health, noted a surge in flu cases post-holidays. Several pediatric specialists, including Dr. Amina Ahmed, an infectious disease expert, indicated that most seriously sick children hadn't received the flu vaccine this year.

According to the CDC, only 43.9% of children and 43.8% of adults received a flu shot this year. In states like Louisiana, the vaccination rate is even lower, falling between 30% and 40%.

However, the CDC assures that this year's flu vaccines effectively cover the most prevalent strains of influenza, primarily H1N1. CDC officials also remind the public that it's not too late to get vaccinated, given that flu season is expected to last for several more weeks or even months.