Flu Cases Start to Surge as Americans Prepare for Holiday Gatherings

MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Predictably, flu season is in full swing, with cases surging across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Friday in a report.

Thirteen states, including Tennessee and Louisiana, report high or very high levels of flu-like illness, double the number from the previous week, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University, told AP News.

According to the CDC, flu-related emergency room visits and lab test confirmations are rising steadily, marking the start of what could be a challenging winter for respiratory viruses.