Flu activity remains elevated and is anticipated to stay high for several weeks, according to the CDC.

A woman experiencing flu symptoms coughs into her elbow, practicing proper hygiene to prevent the spread of germs. She is indoors, wrapped in a cozy sweater, with a tissue box nearby, reflecting the precautions often taken during flu season.

Updated 9:56PM PST, January 13, 2025

NB360 - Winter bugs are hitting hard right now, with the flu leading the pack at super high levels in the West, across the Midwest, and deep into the Southeast, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

Flu-related hospital visits and deaths are climbing, and experts think there’s more on the way. 

“I’m pretty sure flu activity will stay high for a few more weeks,” said Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s domestic flu surveillance team.

The latest report shows what was happening during the week ending Jan. 4 — right after the holidays — and hints at a slight dip in flu activity. That’s probably just a fluke, Budd said, because folks don’t usually see the doctor over the holidays and while on break.

Flu A strains are in charge right now, especially H3N2 and H1N1. While people 65 and older are the most likely to end up in the hospital with the flu, these viruses are hitting all age groups. 

Seasonal flu tends to peak from December to February. Those who catch it often get a sore throat, cough, runny nose, headaches, body aches, and sometimes a fever. Many say flu symptoms feel like getting hit by a truck. 

Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and author of “Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks,” thinks it might be another three months before the flu calms down. 

It’s possible that B strains of the flu could spike later on, which is why Budd and other infectious disease experts say there’s still time to get your flu shot. Plenty of people can still get it — especially kids.

As of Dec. 28, just under 42% of kids had gotten their flu shot this season. This time last year, nearly 45% had it.

So far this season, 16 kids have died from the flu. The CDC doesn’t track adult flu deaths, but they estimate at least 4,700 people overall have died so far, with more than 110,000 hospitalizations.

“If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, there’s still time,” Budd said. “It’s worth it.”

The CDC recommends the annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older.

The flu vaccine is updated every year to match the latest flu strain out there, and generally cuts the risk of getting sick by about 40% and the chance of ending up in the hospital by 60%.

Flu mostly spreads through droplets from sneezing, coughing, and even talking. It can be passed on within a week after symptoms start. It’s most contagious during the first three days of illness.

Staying away from sick people and washing hands regularly can help lower the risk of catching it. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also help, but hand-washing is better, doctors say.

If you do catch the virus, antiviral meds like Tamiflu can help ease the symptoms and speed up recovery. These drugs are especially recommended for people at risk of serious complications, like those with lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes.

Antivirals work best when started within one to two days after symptoms begin.

As with all viral illnesses, antibiotics won’t work against the flu, because they target bacteria, not viruses.