Experts warn of severe flu season as cases continue to rise 

Experts are warning that the United States could face a severe flu season as influenza cases are rapidly rising throughout the country. 

Throughout the week of October 1, there were 960 cases of influenza A and 52 cases of influenza B, according to data from the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

Additionally, the percent positivity rate also increased from 0.49% to 2.5% during that week. 

Doctor visits for influenza-like illnesses have particularly increased for children under 4 with more than 120,000 cases reported during the week of October 1—a 25.5% increase from the same age group reported during the week of August 6. 

The rising trend of influenza cases can be seen on a statewide level as well. 

New York reported 596 cases of confirmed influenza cases during the week of October 1, according to the state’s Department of Health. The number is four times higher than the number of cases reported during the same period last year. 

Similarly, Texas has reported 422 cases of influenza during the week of October 1, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. During the same week the previous year, there were no confirmed cases. 

“We could be seeing more flu than we’ve seen in the last few years,” said Dr. Christi Wojewoda, Director of the Clinical Microbiology lab at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Chair of the College of American Pathologists Clinical Microbiology Committee.

Dr. Wojewoda added that flu cases have been low in the last few years because of Covid-19 and because people are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. 

“That means we haven’t been exposed to respiratory viruses like influenza so our body’s may not have the immune response that we usually have from getting infected seasonally with respiratory viruses,” she said.

Given the trends, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky used Americans to get a flu shot by the end of October. 

"Over the past two years, we've seen some worrisome drops in flu vaccination coverage, especially in some groups of people who are at the highest risk of developing serious flu illness," she said during a press conference.