The United States is dealing with a dangerous flu season. More people are getting sick, and many are facing serious health issues. Doctors say flu hospitalizations have sometimes been higher than during major Covid-19 waves. They are not just treating flu cases but also severe problems caused by the infection.
More Children Suffering from Brain Swelling
Pediatric doctors have seen more children with serious brain complications. Some have acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). This condition causes brain swelling and tissue death. It can have long-term effects on a child’s health.
Dr. Keith Van Haren, a pediatric expert from Stanford Medicine, says ANE cases are increasing. There is no official system to track ANE, making it hard to know the full impact. However, Stanford researchers report seeing 35 to 40 cases in the past two flu seasons. Most cases happened this year.
“This is not normal,” Van Haren said. “Something is going on.”
ANE affects the brain’s thalamus, which controls sleep and wake cycles. Children with this condition may struggle to stay awake. In some cases, it leads to seizures and long-term damage.
Dr. James Antoon from Vanderbilt University Medical Center confirms that his hospital has seen ANE cases. Other neurological issues linked to the flu, including seizures, are also rising. Normally, about four out of 10,000 children under five experience flu-related seizures. Encephalopathy is even rarer, occurring in one per 100,000 cases. But with millions of flu cases, these numbers are adding up.
Hospitals Overwhelmed as Flu Outpaces Covid-19
During the week ending February 1, flu hospitalizations hit 14.4 per 100,000 people. This number is higher than the hospitalization rate during the Delta Covid wave in 2021. So far, the flu has caused about 64 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, compared to 44 per 100,000 from Covid. This is the first time flu hospitalizations have outnumbered those caused by Covid.
Flu deaths are also outpacing Covid deaths. In the last two weeks of January, flu caused 1,302 deaths, while Covid claimed 1,066 lives. Flu activity remains high across the country. According to the CDC, one in three flu tests in hospitals and clinics comes back positive. In some parts of Washington, the positivity rate is as high as 50%.
Hospitals are struggling to keep up with demand. Many are full, with some patients needing ECMO machines to support heart and lung function while they recover.
Dr. Ryan Maves from Wake Forest University School of Medicine compared this flu season to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. “The hospital is full,” he said. “We’re seeing cases I haven’t seen in years.”
Deadly Bacterial Infections Following Flu Cases
Doctors are also seeing more cases of bacterial pneumonia, especially in adults. The flu often weakens the immune system, allowing bacteria to cause severe lung infections.
“We’re seeing a lot of MRSA pneumonia after influenza,” said Dr. John Lynch of UW Medicine. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is resistant to many antibiotics. It can cause serious lung damage. Even those who survive may suffer from permanent lung scarring, making it harder to breathe.
Bacterial pneumonia after the flu is common, especially in older adults. This year, doctors believe they are seeing more cases because of the high number of flu infections. Nurses on social media report full ICUs with patients suffering from pneumonia and respiratory failure.
One Maryland nurse wrote on Reddit, “We’re getting so many people in their 40s just absolutely wrecked by the flu.” Another nurse in the Pacific Northwest compared it to the Delta Covid wave.
Why This Flu Season is Different
This flu season is unusual because two strains, H1N1 and H3N2, are spreading equally. Usually, one type dominates, but this time, both are circulating at nearly 50/50 levels.
“Normally, one takes over,” said Dr. Jennifer Nayak from the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Right now, it’s split evenly.”
This means people who get sick with one strain can catch the other later. Immunity to one strain does not protect against the other.
Low vaccination rates are also making the flu worse. Only 44% of adults have gotten a flu shot this year. Vaccination rates for children have dropped from 58% before the pandemic to 44% this season. So far, 57 children have died from the flu, a higher number than usual for this time of year. Most of them were unvaccinated.
Dr. Buddy Creech from Vanderbilt University Medical Center said, “These deaths could have been prevented with vaccination.”
What You Can Do to Stay Safe
Doctors say there is still time to take action. The flu vaccine remains the best way to avoid severe illness.
“If you get vaccinated now, your immune response will improve in about a week,” said Dr. Creech.
Flu activity is expected to stay high for at least another month. Even after that, flu B could cause a second wave in the spring. Early lab tests suggest the flu shot offers better protection against H1N1 than H3N2. But vaccines alone are not enough.
Health experts recommend additional safety measures:
- Improve indoor air quality.
- Wash hands often.
- Wear high-quality masks in crowded places.
Testing is also important. At-home flu tests are available, and early treatment with antiviral drugs can help prevent severe illness.
“All the strategies we used for Covid apply to the flu,” said Dr. Nayak.
For more updates on this flu season, visit Euro News 24.
