Flu cases rise dramatically as new virus strain emerges

The US is experiencing a dramatic spike in influenza cases as a new, more contagious strain of the flu virus makes the rounds.

In its latest report on flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 20 million cases of influenza during 3 weeks in January. The illness has resulted in 270,000 hospitalizations, and 11,000 deaths. 44 pediatric deaths were also reported.

For children ages 0-17, the current flu season is categorized as “high severity,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Of the children this year so far who have very tragically died of their influenza illness, the CDC says 90% never received a vaccine. That would be something that will be a burden to those parents for many years,” said Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy and Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

“Not that the vaccine is perfect, but it might have given those children a better chance to get over their infection,” he said, in a Feb. 5 interview with American Community Media.

“It’s very difficult sometimes to distinguish flu, certainly from other viral respiratory infections, COVID and RSV. A simple cold usually is from the neck up. Sore throat, runny nose, maybe feeling out of sorts.”

“But if your illness begins suddenly, seriously, and you feel very badly, and if you develop a cough, those are the things that should make you think: influenza or another one of those viruses,” said Schaffner, recommending medical intervention early on for older people, children, and those who are immuno-compromised.

Below are portions of the interview, edited for brevity.

ACOM: Dr. Schaffner, why has this flu season differed from others?

Well, every flu season is distinctive in one way or another. As they say in the flu business, if you’ve seen one flu season, you’ve seen one flu season.

Now what’s happened this year is that we had an early surge, a very rapid upsurge of influenza cases. They came down a little bit and now they’re being sustained. And that’s not all that usual. We will expect influenza to be with us to a greater or lesser degree throughout February and certainly into early March.

Now, one of the things we’ve noticed is that between the time when the composition for the vaccine was created last spring and the onset of flu season, one of the strains, Influenza A H3N2, mutated. So it deviated somewhat from what was in the vaccine.

I will hasten to add that all the data would indicate that the vaccine still prevents great deal of hospitalization. However, that strain was a bit new and it was, as a consequence, contagious because our population didn’t have an optimal protection from previous years against it. So that’s contributed to the influenza spreading so rapidly in the early part of the season.

One other thing, we’re now getting to the mid and the end part of the season. And another one of the influenza strains, typically influenza B, also contained in the vaccine, becomes more active toward the end of the influenza season. We’re beginning to see that now.

The vaccine was created before H3N2 emerged. Is it still effective?

That’s a very important question. We should understand that these respiratory virus vaccines for influenza and COVID are not good at preventing the milder infections.

But they do have the distinct benefit in helping keep us out of the hospital, out of the intensive care unit, and out of the cemetery. And as I tell my patients, what’s wrong with that?

Does H3N2 share some of the same characteristics of Covid-19?

Well, H3N2 is a completely different virus from COVID. However, they share certain characteristics. Both of these viruses, this influenza and COVID, strike older persons, people with immune compromise, or chronic underlying illnesses, and pregnant women particularly hard.

They also strike those at the youngest end of the age spectrum, infants and children up to two years, particularly hard. So both these respiratory viruses seek out and have their greatest impact regarding illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in those populations at the extremes of age. And if you have an immune system that doesn’t work well.

Are people taking their flu shots and are they getting flu shots for their kids?

Yes and no. We’re still seeing mostly older adults being loyal to getting their annual influenza vaccine. But even among them, what with all the vaccine hesitancy, confusion and skepticism that’s out there, we’ve vaccinated somewhat fewer people this year. That’s not a good thing because those vaccines keep us out of the hospital.

It’s uncertain how many children have been vaccinated: I think levels are really quite low. That distresses us in public health because even normal children can be seriously affected with influenza.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets Feb. 25-27. Do you expect new guidelines for eligibility and administration of the flu vaccine?

Well, this past year, they actually made recommendations that were quite the same as in years previous. And so I would anticipate that by and large, no major changes as regards the influenza vaccination recommendations. But we’ll have to see.

Given the disproportionate impact to children, what is your advice to parents as to how to keep their children safe? Should we keep them home from school?

Well, if school is open, you’ve got to send your child to school. That’s very, very important.

Trying to keep children away from others who are coughing and sneezing and having runny noses is a very difficult thing. So I would say first of all, make a resolution that this next September or October, you get your child vaccinated.

But if your child does develop symptoms, contact your health care provider very quickly because they may have an antiviral medication that they can give your child. This is particularly important for any child who has a chronic underlying medical condition.

The AARP’s 2025 report on caregiving notes that 63 million people now serve as caregivers. What advice would you give us to keep our parents and grandparents safe?

Well first, I hope they’re vaccinated.

Also when you are in contact with your grandparents, put that mask on. You don’t want to bring anything from the outside to them. If your grandparents or you suddenly develop symptoms, contact their health care provider again quickly. Don’t put it off. Because the earlier we begin the antiviral medication, the better it works to keep us out of the hospital.

There are two kinds of treatments One is Tamiflu, a five day course. But there’s another one, Baloxavir that is a one-time administration. It is more associated with diarrhea. So it depends on your health care provider.

But keep your sick loved ones out of the Senior Center. Because no one wants to be the dreaded spreader.