Widespread and high levels of influenza continue across the U.S. A more severe H3 strain is spreading quickly and will result in a second wave of the flu, extending the length of the season.
“It looks like we are moving from an H1 wave to an H3 wave,” said Lynnette Brammer, lead of CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team. “There’s still a lot of flu to come.”
What do we know?
• Widespread flu activity is reported in 48 states and Puerto Rico.
• The number of outpatient visits from flu-like illness continues to rise.
• The H1N1 virus has been the dominant strain for most of the flu season, however, a new H3 strain accounted for almost half of the flu cases over the last week.
• H3 strains result in more severe illness.
What does this mean?
• If you already had the flu this season, you can get sick again from another strain.
• The recent spread of the H3 virus indicates that high influenza levels will continue through March and into April.
• Do not let down your guard, we still have a ways to go in the 2018-2019 flu season.