Chicago, Illinois — Doctor visits for flu-like illness have climbed to their highest level in nearly 30 years, signaling a severe and still-unfolding flu season across much of the United States. Health officials say the spike is far from over, especially as the impact of holiday travel and gatherings has yet to fully appear in national data.
According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 8.2% of all outpatient visits nationwide during the week ending December 27 were related to flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, body aches, and extreme fatigue. That makes it the highest percentage recorded since the agency began tracking this metric in 1997.
So far this season, the flu has caused more than 11 million illnesses, at least 120,000 hospitalizations, and around 5,000 deaths, including nine children. Health experts warn that these numbers are likely to rise in the coming weeks.
Flu activity reaches high levels in 45 states
The CDC reports that 45 states are currently experiencing high to very high levels of flu activity, underscoring how widespread the outbreak has become. Only Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are reporting low to moderate spread. Data from Nevada was deemed insufficient for analysis.
Because the most recent reporting period coincides with Christmas week, officials caution that the data does not yet reflect illnesses tied to holiday travel or family gatherings.
“It’s still too soon to know what the impact of the holiday season is going to be on flu activity,” said CDC epidemiologist Krista Kniss. “We’re not anywhere close to being done.”
Hospitals seeing heavier patient loads and more severe cases
Emergency departments are already feeling the strain. Dr. Nick Cozzi, emergency medical services director at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said flu cases are keeping hospital staff exceptionally busy.
“I see a lot of patients coming in with cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, diarrhea and bone-chilling body aches,” Cozzi said.
Doctors are also seeing a troubling trend: many patients are infected with multiple viruses at once, including Covid-19 or RSV, on top of the flu.
“We’re admitting patients at a higher rate than we normally do,” Cozzi added. “Their oxygen levels are lower than normal, creating a potentially life-threatening situation unless they receive supplemental oxygen.”
At Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, flu hospitalizations have more than doubled in just two weeks compared with the previous two-week period.
“This rise is earlier than last year by about a month,” said Dr. Emily Boss, director of pediatric otolaryngology. “We don’t know yet what the peak will look like compared to prior seasons.”
Children face heightened risks amid policy changes
Concerns are especially high for children. The current flu season follows the deadliest flu year for children on record, with 289 pediatric deaths reported last season, surpassing even the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
Despite that history, federal health policy has shifted. Under guidance from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a major change to the childhood vaccination schedule. Effective immediately, the flu vaccine has been removed from the official list of recommended childhood vaccines.
Health experts have strongly criticized the timing of the decision.
“To back off on a flu recommendation in the midst of a pretty severe flu year seems to me to be pretty tone-deaf,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “That’s coming off an influenza year where we had the most childhood deaths in many years.”
As of Monday afternoon, the CDC’s public guidance still stated that everyone six months and older, with rare exceptions, should receive a flu vaccine.
Families see firsthand how dangerous flu can be
For many parents, the severity of the flu is not theoretical. At UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, three-year-old Naya Kessler was hospitalized after days of vomiting, fever, and dehydration following a flu diagnosis.
“She wasn’t taking anything in. Her fevers were continuously spiking,” her mother said. “There was just something screaming at me in my mind that something was wrong.”
Doctors emphasize that even otherwise healthy children can deteriorate rapidly, making early medical attention critical when symptoms worsen.
What experts say people should watch for
Health professionals urge families to take flu symptoms seriously, particularly signs of breathing difficulty, persistent high fever, extreme lethargy, or dehydration. Early treatment and prompt care can be life-saving, especially for children, older adults, and people with underlying conditions.
With flu activity still climbing and peak season likely ahead, officials stress that prevention measures, awareness, and timely care remain essential as communities brace for the weeks to come.
What are you seeing in your area? Have flu cases surged where you live? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
