Influenza and Respiratory Illness

New CDC surveillance data show the U.S. flu season has intensified sharply, with an estimated 11 million cases, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths as of Dec. 27, and 8.2% of outpatient doctor visits nationwide now due to flu‑like illness—the highest level recorded since 1997. The agency says 48 jurisdictions are at high or very high flu activity, a rapidly spreading H3N2 influenza A subtype accounts for more than 90% of subtyped A viruses, only about 130 million flu shots have been administered, and its recent change moving flu vaccination for non‑high‑risk children to 'shared clinical decision‑making' has been condemned as dangerous by leading pediatric and infectious‑disease groups.