The latest report from America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is worrying. So far this flu season, at least 52 children have died due to flu. The surprising thing is that more than 90 percent of these children had not received the flu vaccine. Michelle Slafkoski, executive director of the non-profit organization ‘Families Fighting Flu’, told NBC News, ‘We are fully prepared, but the concern is that the peak of flu has not yet come. Worse times may yet come.

According to the CDC, after declining for several weeks, flu cases began increasing again last week. A total of more than 2 crore flu cases have been reported this season. Due to this, 2 lakh 70 thousand people reached the hospital and 11 thousand lost their lives. Doctors say that it is common for two waves of flu to occur in the same season, especially when one type of virus replaces the other.

Subclade K of H3N2 is spreading rapidly, B strain is also gaining strength.

Doctors say that currently most of the flu is caused by H3N2 subclade K of Flu A. But now the strain of flu B has also started spreading rapidly. Last season’s data shows that cases increased at the end of December, then increased further in January-February.

Hospitalization rate among children is highest in 15 years

According to the CDC, the rate of children being taken to the hospital with flu this season is the highest in the last 15 years. By the end of December, the weekly recruitment rate for children under 18 reached the highest since the 2010–11 season. In the week to January 24, the percentage of flu-positive patients in emergencies increased among children aged 5-17 years, while it remained stable or decreased among other age groups. Doctors believe that the main reason for this is the low vaccination rate among children. In January, only 45.1 percent of children aged 6 months to 17 years got the flu vaccine. This 2024-25 season has been the most dangerous for children so far, in which 289 children died. By this time last year there were only 47 deaths.

Outdated Vaccination Recommendations

Recently the government changed the old recommendations for childhood vaccination. Earlier, all children were asked to get flu vaccine annually from 6 months, but now parents are being asked to take the decision after consulting the doctor. However, major medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have opposed this and continue to recommend annual vaccination.

flu season

what is fluFlu is a disease caused by influenza virus. Its symptoms may include headache, body ache, sore throat, high fever and difficulty in breathing. It can take a serious form, especially in winter, when people gather more.

When does flu season come?Flu season in the Northern Hemisphere runs from October to May. Cases are highest between December and February.

how common is the flu– This is the most common infection in the world. Every season 20 to 40 million people in America are affected by it.

Is it flu or Covid? how to knowSymptoms of both are similar, so only the test will tell for sure. Both can be serious, but they are different viruses and the medicines for treatment are also different. Checkup with a doctor is necessary.