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By Jane Weaver and Felix Gussone, M.D.
Influenza is now prevalent in 36 states and at least 11.4 million people have been infected with the flu since October, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday. Although the current outbreak shows no sign of being as deadly as the 2017-2018 influenza season, which claimed the lives of 80,000 people in the United States, the cases do not seem to have reached their peak. The CDC expects high influenza activity for several weeks.
The CDC estimates that there were 136,000 influenza-related hospitalizations between October 1, 2018 and January 19, 2019, the most serious cases being among Americans aged 65 and over.
Three other children died in the week of January 12-19, bringing to 22 the total number of children for the season, or about the same number of children who died of influenza at the same period last year.
Schools across the country, including in the districts of Alabama, Idaho, Minnesota and Tennessee, have reported this week's closure due to the flu.
Up to now, influenza A (H1N1) viruses have been the most prevalent in the United States since early October, although there may be subsequent waves of different strains such as influenza B.
"I mainly see Influenza A, but I'm starting to see a few," said Dr. Shilpa Patel, a pediatrician from Rockleigh, New Jersey. "Usually, influenza B is more intense than influenza A."
Is it too late to get the flu shot?
The CDC has not yet indicated to what extent the 2018-2018 influenza vaccine protects against circulating viruses, but there is still time to get vaccinated.
"I think the vaccine is doing a great job this year and we are seeing less severe flu in children," Patel said. "People end up feeling so comfortable and think the flu season is sweet, but they still need to be vaccinated."
Jane Weaver
Jane Weaver is a health editor for TODAY.com and NBCNews.com.
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