From Fortune Magazine:

The flu season in the U.S. is worsening, but the extent to which holiday gatherings may have factored into increased illness levels is uncertain. According to new government data, 38 states had high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses as of last week, up from 31 the week before.

The increase includes people with COVID-19, RSV, and other winter viruses, in addition to the flu.

A CDC official expressed expectations of heightened illness for several more weeks. There is uncertainty in interpreting flu reports during and after the holidays, but the current season has been categorized as moderate.

Experts note that the flu season generally peaks between December and February and expect it to climax by the end of January.

By the end of October, the CDC reported at least 10 million flu illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations, and 6,500 deaths. 27 children have died of the flu.

While COVID-19 patients may not be increasing as rapidly as flu this winter, more people are being hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to the flu, data indicates.

“COVID is on the rise,” said a health expert anticipating uncertain timing and intensity of the current surge.

A new COVID-19 variant is accounting for nearly two-thirds of cases in the U.S., but it is not proven to cause more severe illness than previous variants.

The Associated Press receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for the content.



Read more: Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says