Flu May Have Killed Tens Of Thousands In The U.S. So Far

The U.S. is experiencing one of it’s most intense flu seasons for years, with millions of people thought to have been infected so far.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been between 29 and 51 million cases of flu since October 1, and between 13 and 23 million medical appointments for the disease.

Some of these cases have been severe, with an estimated 370,000 to 820,000 hospitalizations so far. Tragically, its thought that between 16,000 and 79,000 people have died from flu since October.

There’s a time lag of around a week on the release of flu figures, so these cover estimates through February 8. They’re preliminary and will be confirmed later in the year. Cases typically surge into February, before tailing off over April and May, so the estimates will likely increase over the coming weeks.

How Much Flu Does The U.S. See Each Year?

Flu statistics vary every year, but this season appears to be relatively strong. That lower estimate of 370,000 hospitalizations, for example, is already higher than the confirmed total from the 2021 to 2022, 2015 to 2016 and 2013 to 2014 seasons.

Last year’s flu season saw 40 million cases in total, with 18 million people visiting a healthcare provider, 470,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 28,000 deaths. Those figures are within the estimates released for this season so far, but given it’s only mid-February, this year’s could still increase significantly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on seasonal patterns, with lower rates of winter illnesses observed in line with lockdowns and other measures designed to prevent the spread of disease. Several winter illnesses have surged this season, including norovirus, which rebounded after several quieter years.

Flu vaccination levels have also declined since the pandemic, which may also have an effect on today’s outbreak.

What Causes Flu?

Flu is a seasonal illness caused by infection with the influenza virus. It causes symptoms including high temperature, coughing, sore throat, an aching body, headache and exhaustion. Symptoms can develop within hours.

Most people can treat their flu at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter painkillers. But some people will develop severe symptoms that require hospitalization. Flu can cause chest pain and make it difficult to breathe. It can sometimes lead to pneumonia, a serious lung condition that can be deadly.

Several factors can make you more vulnerable to severe symptoms, including being very young or older than 65, being pregnant or having a health condition like diabetes or asthma.

How To Protect Against Flu

Vaccination is the best way to protect against flu. Shots improve the body’s ability to recognize and fight the influenza virus, which can reduce the chance of catching the disease and result in milder symptoms.

Annual vaccination is recommended for almost everyone over the age of six months old, but they’re especially important for people at risk of serious illness from flu. The shots themselves are updated each year depending on which virus strains are expected to circulate. There are several different types of influenza virus, and some are more prominent in different seasons.

Avoiding contact with others who have flu symptoms can help prevent you from catching the disease. If you do get sick, staying home and limiting contact with others will help reduce the chance of passing the flu on.

Good hygiene practices can also help prevent the spread of disease. This includes washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, ideally with a tissue.

Keeping rooms well-ventilated can also reduce the risk of flu transmission, as can cleaning frequently-touched surfaces like door handles, keyboards and countertops and throwing away any contaminated tissues.