Sixteen pediatric influenza-associated deaths were reported in the U.S. for the week ending Jan. 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bringing the total to 47 pediatric deaths in the 2024-’25 season.
Seasonal flu activity is elevated and increasing across the country, according to the CDC’s weekly influenza surveillance report.
Outpatient respiratory illnesses remained above baseline for the ninth consecutive week, accounting for 6.9% of all visits to health care providers. More than 38,000 people were admitted to hospitals with influenza during the week.
As of Jan. 18, 44.1% of U.S. children had been vaccinated for the flu, down from 48.8% at the same time last year. The AAP and CDC recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. The vaccines can be given at the same time. In addition, eligible infants, high-risk toddlers, pregnant people and older people should get immunized against respiratory syncytial virus.
The CDC estimates there have been at least 20 million illnesses and 11,000 deaths from the flu so far this season.
No new bird flu cases found in humans were reported to the CDC in the week ending Jan. 25. The CDC’s bird flu page, last updated Jan. 31, reports 67 human cases and one human death. No human-to-human transmission of H5N1 has been identified in the U.S.
