A new study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled “Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations During a High Severity Season — Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season.”
According to the report, “CDC classified the U.S. 2024–25 influenza season as a high-severity season for all age groups, making it the first such season since 2017–18.” The researchers used data from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) to conduct their report.
Key findings:
The number of hospitalized flu patients was the highest in over a decade.
Peak weekly influenza-associated hospitalization rates during the 2024-25 season were higher than the peak weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations in 2022 when Omicron was circling.
Nearly 17% of patients were admitted to an intensive care unit.
Approximately 6% received invasive mechanical ventilation.
Only about one third of hospitalized patients had received a flu vaccine prior to being sick.
“Children aged 5–17 years were the lowest percentage of hospitalized patients receiving antiviral treatment” at nearly 62%.
