United States: A fresh wave of flu infections has raised concerns among health officials nationwide. The latest report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a rebound in cases after a decline following the winter holidays.
Flu activity has intensified in certain US regions, notably the Midwest and South-Central areas. Notably, the positivity rate surged to 16.2 percent at the time of the report, up from 14.2 percent the previous week.
Influenza A remains predominant, with cases on the rise, particularly the 2009 H1N1 subtype, accounting for 60.4 percent of samples. At the same time, cases of H3N2 and influenza B have also seen a slight uptick by the week ending February 2.
Despite the increase in case percentages, hospital and outpatient clinic visits for flu or flu-like symptoms have held steady, according to mcknights.com. However, the majority of infections are found among individuals aged 5 to 24 years, and surprisingly, flu-related deaths decreased by the week ending February 2.
A post-holiday surge in flu cases is not uncommon. It can range from a significant uptick to a slight increase before the season settles. Predicting the severity and duration of the flu season remains a challenge for experts, as reported by CNN.
In terms of COVID-19, cases have seen a slight rise in certain regions, including the Midwest, South, and parts of the Northeast. However, hospital admissions and emergency department visits have declined compared to the previous week.
Additionally, health experts have noted the emergence of a new lineage of the virus with over 100 mutations, which has become dominant in South Africa.