February 17, 2025- With flu activity last week higher than or similar to the highest point of the season and hospitalizations and deaths on the rise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week Friday that it now classified the season as high severity for all age-groups for the first time since the 2017-18 season, according to the University of Minnesota. Over the past 2 weeks, flu deaths have outpaced fatalities from COVID and now make up 2.6% of all deaths for the most recent week, compared to 1.5% for COVID.
Outpatient visits for flulike illness have been above baseline for 11 weeks in a row, with very high or high activity reported in 46 states. Levels are highest in people ages 24 years old and younger.