A dangerous new strain of influenza, described by some as a 'super flu', is causing a severe and early-season crisis across the United States, with symptoms so intense they are leaving patients struggling to breathe and requiring mechanical ventilation.
Alarming Surge in Cases and Hospitalisations
Official figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paint a grim picture. Nearly all US states are now reporting 'high' or 'very high' flu activity. The latest data, for the week ending December 27, shows a 54% jump in hospital admissions compared to the previous week. Shockingly, one in three flu tests is now coming back positive, a significant rise from one in four just a week prior and representing a 76% surge from the same period last year.
This escalating outbreak is being driven by a new and formidable variant of the H3N2 virus, known as subclade K. Experts warn this strain is better at evading the human immune system than its predecessors, leading to more severe infections. The overall toll is staggering: officials estimate at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalisations, and 5,000 deaths so far this season, dwarfing last year's figures.
Severe Symptoms and Tragic Consequences
Doctors report that infections begin with an unusually high and persistent fever, often lasting five to seven days, which may not respond to common medicines like Tylenol. This progresses to a severe, phlegmy cough, extreme fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, and intense muscle and joint aches.
In the most serious cases, the illness can lead to respiratory failure. The human cost is devastating, with at least nine paediatric deaths already confirmed, including four in Massachusetts and one in Illinois. One tragic case involved 14-year-old Noah Smothers, who died last month from influenza-related complications.
The story of two-year-old Sarah Lopez from Georgia underscores the virus's ferocity. Hospitalised with influenza A, she developed a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis. She required a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube, and remains in hospital facing a long rehabilitation. Her family is now fundraising to cover her substantial medical costs.
A 'Banner Year' for Flu with Limited Vaccine Protection
Epidemiologists are calling this the worst flu season in at least 20 years, with outpatient visits for flu-like illness at their highest level in a quarter of a century. Dr Caitlin Rivers of Johns Hopkins University stated, 'This is definitely a banner year... We're still in the thick of it.'
While health experts continue to urge vaccination, particularly for the elderly and immunocompromised, there is a caveat. The subclade K strain became prevalent only after this year's flu vaccine was formulated, meaning the shot may offer only limited protection against this specific variant. Despite this, vaccination is still recommended to reduce the severity of illness.
With the flu season typically peaking in January or February, authorities fear the worst may still be to come. Dr Robert Hopkins of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases warned that the steady increase in cases suggests 'the peak ahead of us', indicating this severe outbreak is far from over.
