‘Super flu’ still spreading uncontrollably… as cities see record number of cases and hospitalizations
More US states are reporting ‘very high’ levels of the deadly ‘super flu,’ concerning data shows.
The latest CDC data for the week ending December 27 shows 32 states are now reporting ‘very high’ levels of influenza, up from 22 last week.
The agency’s highest activity classification, level 13, was given to Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York City, New York state, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Colorado, New Mexico and Idaho.
New York state also reported just over 72,000 influenza cases during the week of December 20, its highest number ever seen. One in four of these were in New York City.
And during the week of December 27, approximately 4,550 people were hospitalized with the flu, 24 percent more than the previous week and the highest number recorded in a single week, according to the latest data from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDH).
The number of states reporting ‘low’ and ‘minimal’ flu activity has also drastically diminished. There are no longer any states with ‘minimal’ activity, and only two have ‘low’ activity: Montana and Vermont.
This is down from 10 ‘low’ and four ‘minimal’ activity states the previous week.
One in three flu tests also came back positive during the week of December 27, up 21 percent from one in four the prior week. This is a 76 percent surge from this time last year.
Ryleigh Smothers (pictured above), 16, died on December 28 from influenza just five days after visiting her doctor with ‘ordinary flu symptoms’
Additionally, more pediatric flu-related deaths have been recorded, including a 16-year-old from Ohio, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the season to nine.
The hospitalization rate is now 28 per 100,000 people, up 54 percent from 18 per 100,000 the previous week.
The CDC also reported the 2025-2026 season has hit ‘moderate severity’ for the first time since the season started this fall. Last year’s flu season was classified as ‘high severity.’
Due to the surge, hospitals are enacting Covid-era restrictions on visitors and bringing back mask mandates to slow the spread of the dangerous new flu strain H3N2 subclade K, which experts believe is behind the flu’s meteoric rise.
This year’s dominant flu strain is brand new to people’s immune systems, making them highly vulnerable and at an increased risk of severe, hospitalizing illness.
Dr Neal Shipley, medical director of Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, previously told Daily Mail it is important to recognize the symptoms that ring alarm bells so you know when to seek expert help.
Shipley said that in children, the flu comes on suddenly and may also cause vomiting and diarrhea.
He said people over the age of 65 are at the highest risk of complications, including hospitalization and death.
Join the debate
Should cities bring back strict Covid-era measures to control this year’s dangerous spike in flu cases?
Spurlock is pictured at left with her sister, Kyleigh. Spurlock’s stepmother told local news: ‘She went from a 98.5 temperature to a 105, she went septic, she had double pneumonia, all within 24 hours, all from the flu, and it doesn’t make sense’
Noah Smothers is pictured here in the center. He died last month from influenza-related complications at just 14 years old
‘If your symptoms worsen quickly, or you have trouble breathing, weakness, dehydration or symptoms that don’t improve after a few days, you should find your nearest urgent care,’ he added.
The CDC estimates there have been at least 11 million flu illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths.
There was one influenza-associated pediatric deaths in the last week, 16-year-old Ryleigh Spurlock of Ohio, who went to the doctor with ‘ordinary flu symptoms’ on December 23, Cleveland 19 News reported.
Her condition quickly deteriorated, and she died on December 28.
Spurlock’s stepmother told local news: ‘She went from a 98.5 temperature to a 105, she went septic, she had double pneumonia, all within 24 hours, all from the flu, and it doesn’t make sense.’
The teen had not received a flu shot this season, according to Cleveland 19 News.
Hospitals have begun to bring back Covid-era masking policies to slow the spread of ‘super flu’ (file photo)
The above CDC graph shows the gradual increase in positive influenza tests through December 27, the latest available data
The above CDC graph shows influenza-like illness hospitalizations this season compared to last season. The 2025-2026 flu season is represented by the red line, while the orange shows last season
The week before, 14-year-old Noah Smothers from Alabama lost his life to flu complications, as well as an unidentified child from Kentucky.
Influenza A, which includes subclade K and accounts for three in four flu cases, can best be prevented with an annual vaccine, which is 30 to 75 percent effective.
As of mid December, 42 percent of American adults have received this season’s flu shot, which is in line with last year’s figures.
Dr Ken Redcross, an internal medicine physician in New York and spokesman for Boiron USA, also advised handwashing and steering clear of anyone who may be sick.
He previously told the Daily Mail: ‘The best way to reduce flu risk during and after the holidays is to limit exposure where possible.’
