Name: Many states reporting higher than usual flu cases
Uploaded: 2025-12-31T01:26:16.690Z
Duration: 1 min 56 s
Description: There has been a recent surge in flu cases over the holidays. Previously, 14 states were reporting high or very high levels of flu. Now that number has more than doubled to 29 states across the country. Dr. Jon LaPook explains.

There has been a recent surge in flu cases over the holidays. Previously, 14 states were reporting high or very high levels of flu. Now that number has more than doubled to 29 states across the country. Dr. Jon LaPook explains.

New York

A significant increase in flu cases has been reported across the United States, with the number of states experiencing high or very high flu activity more than doubling in a single week. According to the CDC, this flu season has resulted in at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths, including eight pediatric fatalities.

Vaccination rates for children remain low, similar to the previous year, when the majority of pediatric flu deaths occurred among unvaccinated children. Health experts emphasize that, despite the current vaccine not being a perfect match for the circulating flu virus, it still reduces the risk of severe illness. Preventive measures such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and timely use of antiviral medication are recommended to limit the spread.

Many states reporting higher than usual flu cases

It's something many families are talking about this holiday season, the flu and the sharp rise in cases. Here's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. John LaPook with the new numbers just out today. These maps show the surge in reported flu cases over a single week. Previously, 14 states were reporting high or very high levels of flu. Now that number has more than doubled. States are showing increased activity across the country from California to Kansas to Maine. So far this season, the CDC estimates there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths, including eight reported pediatric deaths. The vaccination rate this year for children remains low, similar to last year's. In that flu season, 280 children died and almost 90% were unvaccinated. All right, so Dr. LaPook, we know that this current vaccine is not a perfect match for the flu virus this year. The question is, why should people still get it? Because even though it's not a perfect match, it still offers protection. In fact, a study out of Great Britain showed that if you do go on to get the flu despite getting vaccinated, having received the flu vaccine lowers your risk of hospitalization and death. And that's a big deal. So what about all of the caretakers? Because we started off talking about the number of people that are getting sick, but how do we protect ourselves if we're taking care of people that are sick? There's actually medication you can take if you take it within about 48 hours for people who have close contact with somebody who has the flu. After that, think about how it's spread, right? The flu virus can be on surfaces for a long period of time. So you touch the surface, it's on your hands, you touch your mouth, your nose, your eyes, you get it. So try to keep your hands under your chin, but obviously wash your hands well. And then remember that the lesson from COVID is that the virus is in the air. So if you're in the same room, even way beyond five feet, wear a mask, a well-fitting mask that can give you protection.

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Breakdown