In Week 53 of the 2025-2026 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported continued elevated influenza activity across the United States. While some indicators show a decrease or stability, these changes may reflect variations in healthcare access or reporting during the holiday season rather than a true peak in activity.
Seasonal Influenza Activity Overview
The CDC’s in-season severity assessment classified the current flu season as moderately severe. So far, a total of 17 influenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported, including eight deaths this week alone.
Influenza Virus Types
Influenza A(H3N2) has emerged as the predominant virus this season. During Week 53, public health laboratories reported:
- 1,259 influenza viruses, with 1,223 being Influenza A and 36 Influenza B.
- Of the 885 subtyped Influenza A viruses, 817 (or 92.3%) were classified as A(H3N2).
- Among 436 Influenza A(H3N2) viruses, 91.5% belonged to subclade K.
Health Impact Statistics
The CDC has estimated that, this season, there have been:
- At least 15 million illnesses.
- Approximately 180,000 hospitalizations.
- About 7,400 deaths due to influenza.
Vaccination and Treatment
With around 130 million doses of the flu vaccine distributed this season, health officials continue to advocate for vaccination as a preventive measure against flu and its severe complications. Antiviral drugs are also available for treating flu symptoms, especially for high-risk patients.
National Virologic Surveillance
Testing positivity for influenza viruses decreased in Week 53 compared to the previous week. Specifically, Region 8 reported the highest positivity rate at 31.7%, while Region 10 had the lowest at 13.0%. This variability underscores regional differences in virus circulation.
Outpatient and Emergency Department Data
During Week 53, 7.2% of outpatient visits were due to influenza-like illness (ILI), a slight decrease from the previous week. Hospital admission rates for confirmed influenza cases also remained elevated.
Hospitalization Rates
The Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) reported 14,153 confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations between October 1, 2025, and January 3, 2026. The hospitalization rate was recorded at 8.7 per 100,000 population during Week 53, marking it as one of the highest rates seen since the 2010-2011 flu season.
Pediatric and Geriatric Impact
Among the hospitalized, 89.7% of patients had the A(H3N2) virus. The age group with the highest hospitalization rate was adults over 65 years, followed by children ages 0-4.
Mortality Data
Recent data indicated that 1.9% of deaths reported during Week 53 were associated with influenza, revealing a slight increase from Week 52. The ongoing monitoring by the CDC continues to yield valuable insights into the current flu season’s trajectory.
The CDC encourages the public to remain vigilant and consider vaccination as flu activity is expected to persist in the coming weeks. Continuous updates and detailed information about flu trends can be accessed through El-Balad’s dedicated health sections.
