New York: The United States is experiencing one of its worst flu seasons in more than 15 years, with cases still rising, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The agency reported that at least 24 million influenza cases have been recorded so far this season, resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths. The CDC’s latest weekly flu surveillance report indicated that seasonal influenza activity remains on the rise across the country.
The report revealed that 7.8% of patient visits to outpatient clinics for the week ending February 1 were due to influenza-like illnesses, marking a steady increase from 7% the previous week and 5.8% the week before that.
Emergency department data also showed an alarming trend, with 8% of visits resulting in an influenza diagnosis during the same period. In comparison, 1% of emergency patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, while 0.5% tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Also Read | Experts Warn of Risks as Earthquakes Shake Santorini’s Tourism Hub
Adding to the public health concerns, norovirus outbreaks have been unusually high this winter, according to the CDC.
Also Read | IMF Warns of Slower Economic Growth in Nicaragua as Remittances Decline
The CDC has yet to issue an official statement addressing the severity of the ongoing flu season, and a spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
