2019-2020 Flu Season on Track to Be Especially Severe, New CDC Data Suggests

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The current flu season is on track be one of the worst in years, Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN.

CNN reports that Fauci says the 2019-2020 flu season is on track to be as severe as the 2018-2017 season, which was the deadliest in at least a decade.

New data from the CDC released on Friday estimates that so far this season, at least 6.4 million people have caught the flu, 55,000 people have been hospitalized and 2,900 people have died — 800 more people then were estimated the week before.

According to the latest CDC in-season flu burden estimates, there were at least 6.4 million flu illnesses between Oct. 1 and Dec. 28. If you do get sick with flu, prescription antivirals can make your illness milder & may prevent serious flu complications: https://t.co/O0Dy8Fbjs2 pic.twitter.com/4arfhLojhU

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 3, 2020

Twenty-seven of those deaths were children.

CDC reports 5 more pediatric flu deaths, for a season total of 27 so far. Learn the warning signs of a severe flu virus infection in children, and seek immediate medical attention if your child shows any of these symptoms: https://t.co/Lu9Akn7mLw pic.twitter.com/upWxkILO61

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 4, 2020

 

Flu seasons the past few years have been particularly brutal. The 2017-2018 season was unusually severe and the deadliest in years, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The 2018-2019 season was the longest in a decade, lasting more than 21 weeks, per the CDC.

An updated graph from the CDC, released at the end of last month, also shows the number of reported flu cases growing at a similar rate to the deadly 2017-2018 season.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC also said on Friday that 34 states and Washington D.C., New York City and Puerto Rico are all experiencing “high flu activity.”

The latest CDC #flu activity report is out. It shows Washington, D.C., New York City, Puerto Rico and 34 states experiencing high flu activity. Find out if your state is on the list: https://t.co/upgRKTHXEi pic.twitter.com/1KP9dR4vxk

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 3, 2020

On Saturday, the CDC tweeted that flu activity throughout the U.S. looks like it will remain strong through mid-January.

According to the latest flu forecast from CDC #FluSight, national flu activity is predicted to remain elevated through mid-January. A #fluvaccine can be beneficial any time flu viruses are circulating in your community, including after January: https://t.co/FTFwGHOVcz

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 4, 2020

“The initial indicators indicate this is not going to be a good season — this is going to be a bad season,” Fauci told CNN.
According to the CDC, adults over 65 or children under 2 are at the most risk of developing flu-related complications that could result in death.

#FluFactFriday: Serious complications from #flu can happen to anyone, but some people are more likely to get serious flu complications that could lead to hospitalization or even death.

Learn who: https://t.co/xprGIieQtL#FightFlu pic.twitter.com/BqnjL0S7PB

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 3, 2020

 

The CDC also stresses that it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine. According to forecasting, the CDC estimates there’s a 30% flu season will peak in January and a 25% chance it will peak in February.

(1/2) According to CDC’s #FluSight forecasting experts, there is about a 40% chance flu activity peaked nationally in late December, a 30% chance it will peak in January and 25% chance it will peak in February.

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) January 2, 2020

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Contributor: Madeleine Carlisle

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