Flu Season: These 7 States Have The Highest Activity

The ongoing flu season in the U.S. is shaping up to be a harsh one. Many states are seeing increased flu activity of late as the flu season ravages through the country earlier than usual.

The highest flu activity was recorded in seven states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) flu activity map for the week ending on Nov. 5 (week 44). They include Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Washington D.C. also had "very high" activity.

But these are not the only states that aren't faring well amid the flu season as places like Texas, Maryland and New York have also been seeing very high flu activity. They are followed by New Jersey, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

In total, 25 states have respiratory illness levels that can be considered "high" or "very high," according to the CDC.

However, the map is based on respiratory cases with fever and cough or sore throat and not on lab-confirmed influenza. Thus, it may also include "patient visits due to other respiratory pathogens that cause similar symptoms."

"Early increases in seasonal influenza activity continue nationwide," the agency noted. "The southeastern and south-central areas of the country are reporting the highest levels of activity followed by the Mid-Atlantic and the south-central West Coast regions."

The agency recorded 6,465 hospitalizations on week 44. Pneumonia, the flu or COVID-19 were found to be the reason for 9% of deaths the same week, which was described to be "above threshold." There were also three pediatric deaths, bringing the total cases to five this season.

Only recently, North Carolina logged its first pediatric death from the flu since 2020. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) also recently confirmed its first pediatric flu death for the season.

"The loss of a child is profound," said Dr. Ayne Amjad, acting state health officer and commissioner of DHHR's Bureau for Public Health. "While most individuals recover from the flu, it can be a serious and life-threatening illness in both children and adults, especially those with existing health conditions and compromised immunity. We extend our deepest sympathies to this family."

The flu season, of course, is compounded by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in detections of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) among young children.

So far, the CDC has logged 2.8 to 6.6 million flu illnesses, 23,000 to 48,000 hospitalizations and a daunting 1,300 to 3,600 deaths between Oct. 1 and Nov. 5.

"Now is the ideal time to get your flu shot," West Virginia state epidemiologist Shannon McBee said. "The flu vaccine is the first line of defense to protect yourself, and people around you who are vulnerable to the serious effects of the flu."