The 2023-2024 flu season seems more severe compared to recent years. While final data won't arrive until later, early CDC numbers indicate a big impact on public health. Flu is a yearly challenge but this season appears tougher.
As of March 23rd, 2024 (Week 12), the influenza season brought
31 million illnesses. There were 350,000 hospitalizations and over
22,000 deaths. A typical flu season might see 19-40 million illnesses, but this year, flu cases potentially saw a steeper rise.
These flu statistics cover the 2024 season up till March 23rd. Yet, these are initial estimates only. As the CDC keeps gathering info, final figures could differ from current projections. Some key points: First, national numbers span coast-to-coast.
Secondly, it tracks flu activity thus far, before the season's end. So remember, these early stats may rise or fall compared to final tallies. The CDC will refine data continuously until the flu season concludes.
While influenza has been circulating nationwide, some areas are bound to experience more cases. The CDC tracks positive flu test rates without publishing exact regional numbers. Their data shows Regions 6, 7, 5, and 3 consistently had higher positive test percentages than others in the recent Week 12 report.
These regions cover parts of the South Central, Midwest, and Southeast United States. This suggests those areas may have faced a more severe flu season compared to the rest of the country.