This Flu Season Is Brutal. Here's How to Stay Safe:
The year is starting with more than twice as many flu cases and nearly twice as many hospitalizations and ...
webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20260108/how-to-stay-safe-amid-brutal-flu-season
Photo: webmd.com · view article
Rapid Surge in Flu Cases in Early 2026By early 2026, flu caused 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the U.S., doubling last year's rates.
- The 2025-26 flu season has more than twice the cases and fatalities compared to last year, with seniors and young children most vulnerable.
- The fast spread is driven mainly by the mutated influenza A (H3N2) subclade K, which evades antibodies and increases infectivity.
- Flu vaccines still reduce severe illness even without a perfect match to this season’s dominant strain, especially for high-risk individuals.
- Experts advise vaccination, mask-wearing, early antiviral use, and avoiding crowded places to curb transmission and complications.
Treatment for influenza, with the antivirals that we have, is time dependent.— Dr. Frederick G. Hayden, Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of timely treatment for influenza.
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This Flu Season Is Brutal. Here's How to Stay Safe: The year is starting with more than twice as many flu cases and nearly twice as many hospitalizations and ...
webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20260108/how-to-stay-safe-amid-brutal-flu-season
Seasonal influenza activity remained high and increased in late December, prompting the CDC to classify the 2025–26 flu season as “moderately severe ... Show more
Flu shot language for kids sparks concern for more illnesses: Some Maryland health experts are concerned about new federal language on the flu shot that could ...
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Does everyone seem sick? See how much flu-like illness is going around each state
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How bad is flu in Alabama? Current season worst in years, but rates dropping: The state is among many in the U.S. that are at the CDC's highest level for ...
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Flu virus tracker: Latest update shows high influenza activity across most states. Watch out for these symptoms
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KY seeing very high spread as ‘super flu’ sweeps US. What’s different about it?: Kentucky is facing fast-rising H3N2 super flu strain with very high illness ...
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Flu May Be At Highest Rate On Record—With 5,000 Deaths As Vaccinations Have Lagged Behind Previous Years
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Flu deaths continue to rise in NC, as pace of new cases eases a bit: Dozens have died of flu complications this season, according to NC Department of Health and ...
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US CDC Says 2025-26 Flu Season ‘moderately Severe’ as Cases Hit 11 Million: Seasonal influenza activity remained elevated and rose in the final week of December ...
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Flu surges across U.S. as doctor visits reach highest level since 1997: The CDC estimated there have been at least 11 million flu cases as of December 27.
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San Mateo reports child influenza death same week that CDC cuts immunization recommendations
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Key FactsUS Panel Limits Flu Vaccines Containing Thimerosal
Jun 26, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: npr.org
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: npr.org
- The ACIP recommended that children, pregnant women, and adults receive single-dose flu vaccines free of thimerosal.
- Annual flu vaccination for everyone over six months and an RSV antibody shot for infants under eight months were endorsed.
- Despite strong scientific evidence supporting thimerosal safety, some committee members raised disproven health concerns.
- Leading medical organizations warned the meeting's approach could undermine public confidence in vaccines and approval processes.
Removing a known neurotoxin from being injected into our most vulnerable population is a good place to start with making America healthy again.— Lyn Redwood, a nurse and former president of Children's Health Defense, during the CDC committee meeting.
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