This year\u2019s \u201csuper flu\u201d season is certainly living up to its name.<\/p>\n
The US is experiencing its highest infection rate<\/a> in nearly three decades, according to flu statistics released by the CDC on Monday, with all but four states reporting increased levels of illness as the new virus strain subclade K<\/a> continues to spread.<\/p>\n And New York appears to be getting hit the hardest: The week of Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026 saw the highest number of flu hospitalizations recorded in a single week.<\/p>\n The US is experiencing the highest level of flu cases in 25 years. Syda Productions \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n In the last week of December, the country saw a whopping 33% increase in positive flu tests.<\/p>\n And more than 8% of trips to the doctor were for sore throats and severe coughs \u2014 two trademark symptoms of this latest virus<\/a> \u2014 up from last year\u2019s number of 6.7%.<\/p>\n The number of sick people steadily increased throughout the holiday season<\/a> and even started showing alarming numbers back in November, when subclade K was responsible for more than half<\/a> of US flu cases.<\/p>\n But experts warn that we haven\u2019t even hit the peak yet, as influenza \u201ccontinues to increase across the country\u201d, the CDC<\/a> said Monday.<\/p>\n As of Dec. 27, 30 states from all regions have moved into the CDC\u2019s highest tier of flu activity<\/a>. Before the peak holiday season, only six states were considered to have high flu activity.<\/p>\n States from the East Coast, including Maine and New York<\/a>, to the Midwest and the South all saw drastic spikes in only two weeks, between Dec. 13 and Dec. 27. Montana and Vermont were the two states with the lowest flu rates.<\/p>\n Outbreaks were also reported internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan, which saw over 6,000 cases and several hospitalizations of children.<\/p>\n New York appears to be getting hit the hardest: The week of Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026 saw the highest number of flu hospitalizations recorded in a single week. StockPhotoPro \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Meanwhile, hospitalizations are at their highest since 2010<\/a>, with experts worried the numbers will get worse as more people get sick.<\/p>\n \u201cThese viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening,\u201d Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said in a news release<\/a>. \u201cWe are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses and hospitals under capacity strain.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s going on in New York?<\/p>\n That last week of December into early January, the New York State Department of Health reported 4,546 hospitalizations across the state \u2014 a massive increase from the week prior.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost 1,000 more people were admitted to a hospital during this most recent seven-day period compared to the prior week,\u201d said New York\u2019s Acting Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald. \u201cThere is still time to get a flu shot, and remember, flu can be treated with antiviral medication if started within 48 hours of symptom onset [as] your doctor deems appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n The week before that had already seen more people visit the ER for flu symptoms than any other week in the previous 10 years.<\/p>\n Why are cases so high?<\/p>\n Fewer people are getting vaccinated according to CDC data<\/a>, as public distrust continues to grow, especially under Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr<\/a>.<\/p>\n Only around 48 million adults have gotten a shot this year, down from the nearly 61 million back in the 2019-2020 flu season.<\/p>\n Vaccination rates are down \u2014 but this year\u2019s flu vaccine is also not well matched to the current virus. Niko_Dali \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Vaccinations have also particularly decreased in children by 11% from the 2020 flu season, dropping to only 42% receiving a shot.<\/p>\n This data was published the same day HHS announced modified childhood vaccine schedules, with the recommendation that kids get flu vaccines after a consultation with a doctor.<\/p>\n But the vaccine is also proving less effective this season. That\u2019s because every year, the flu mutates. Production of the vaccine begins six to nine months in advance, and it\u2019s based on data and scientific predictions \u2014 but sometimes, those predictions fall short.<\/p>\n Usually, flu shots are 40% to 60% effective. This year, estimates are that it\u2019s only 32% to 39% effective in adults. Fortunately, it\u2019s fairing better in children with 72% to 75% efficacy.<\/p>\n \u201c[The dominant strain is] not very well-aligned with the vaccine this year, which means there is potentially a larger proportion of the population that is susceptible to the flu,\u201d said Neil Maniar, director of the master of public health program at\u00a0Northeastern University<\/a>.<\/p>\n The dominant strain this year is subclade K, a mutation of H3N2.<\/p>\n However, experts continue to recommend flu shots and stress that it\u2019s not too late.<\/p>\n