U.S. flu cases hit record high

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that at least 24 million people have come down with the flu since October, according to the agency’s preliminary flu season data. CDC data released last week reported the highest number of flu cases in over a decade since the swine flu outbreak around 2010, CNN reported.

Health officials estimated that at least 310,000 people have been hospitalized this flu season and at least another 13,000 died. The CDC’s state-by-state data found over 40 states reporting high or very high levels of influenza patients in the emergency room. Clinical lab results showed an over 30% upward trend in the virus last week, according to the CDC’s flu weekly update.

The National Center for Health Statistics reported over 3,500 flu deaths within the first five weeks of 2025, the weekly update added. Data showed that most states experiencing high levels of illness were located along the north and southeast regions, as well as states in the central and southern midwest regions. The data also reported over 30 states experiencing high or very high levels of overall respiratory illness, according to state-by-state data.

What’s the status of other respiratory illnesses? Data showed emergency rooms in most states reported a low to moderate number of RSV patients which the CDC noted was declining. State-by-state data also showed an overall low number of COVID-19 patients in emergency rooms. However, analysis of sewage and wastewater suggested a high number of cases, according to the CDC’s national summary.

Dig deeper: Read Bekah McCallum’s report discussing if the bird flu could become a pandemic.