Flu activity has hit a new peak for the season and is continuing to increase across the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 weekly influenza reports.The CDC classifies 32 states and Washington, D.C., as having 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity levels and 11 states as having 鈥渉igh鈥� activity levels in its most recent data, which tracked the virus through the week ending on Feb. 1.There have been at least 24 million influenza illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths during the 2024-2025 flu season, which began at the start of October. In total, 57 pediatric deaths have been reported due to the flu, with 10 from the most recently reported week alone.Each week, the CDC monitors doctors' visits for flu-like illnesses and labels each state on a scale from 鈥渕inimal鈥� to 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity levels. The exception is Vermont, which the CDC reports having "inadequate data."This has been the worst week of flu season so far, with about two-thirds of states and Washington, D.C., having 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity. Additionally, 31.6% of flu tests done in clinical labs across the country came back positive, which is the highest rate of the season yet.Flu season most often peaks in February, according to CDC data.Health experts say it鈥檚 not too late to get a flu shot, which the CDC recommends for everyone ages 6 months or older. As long as flu viruses continue circulating, people can still benefit from getting vaccinated. You can find vaccination locations near you on vaccines.gov.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
NEW YORK — Flu activity has hit a new peak for the season and is continuing to increase across the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 .
The CDC classifies 32 states and Washington, D.C., as having 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity levels and 11 states as having 鈥渉igh鈥� activity levels in its most recent data, which tracked the virus through the week ending on Feb. 1.
There have been at least 24 million influenza illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths during the 2024-2025 flu season, which began at the start of October. In total, 57 pediatric deaths have been reported due to the flu, with 10 from the most recently reported week alone.
Each week, the CDC monitors doctors' visits for flu-like illnesses and labels each state on a scale from 鈥渕inimal鈥� to 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity levels. The exception is Vermont, which the CDC reports having "inadequate data."
This has been the worst week of flu season so far, with about two-thirds of states and Washington, D.C., having 鈥渧ery high鈥� flu activity. Additionally, 31.6% of flu tests done in clinical labs across the country came back positive, which is the highest rate of the season yet.
Flu season most often peaks in February, according to CDC data.
Health experts say it鈥檚 not too late to get a flu shot, which the CDC recommends for everyone ages 6 months or older. As long as flu viruses continue circulating, people can still benefit from getting vaccinated. You can find vaccination locations near you on vaccines.gov.
