Who is getting hit by the flu? See the latest data and charts. – The Boston Globe

The flu just won’t quit this year. The virus seemed to peak after the December holidays in Massachusetts, headed back down, and then made an abrupt U-turn. And it’s still climbing. Now, people are reporting flu-like symptoms at rates higher than any other winter peak since before COVID struck five years ago, according to state data.The latest numbers show that roughly 11.5 percent of patients seeking care at doctors’ offices and emergence departments are suffering from fevers, coughs, and sore throats, classic flu symptoms. That’s up nearly one percentage point from last week. But because many don’t end up getting tested, the actual rate of infections may be substantially higher, doctors said.Nationally, the misery index is also higher than it’s been in years, with droves of people heading to the doctor with flu-like symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Those numbers can vary greatly from year to year, with last season’s counts at roughly 40 million illnesses, 470,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 28,000 deaths.Advertisement“It’s crazy and it’s everywhere,” said Dr. Alain Chaoui, a family medicine physician in Peabody who was home sick Thursday but still seeing patients via telemedicine, including an entire family pummeled by the flu.Chaoui’s advice is to skip over-the-counter cold and flu medications, which are largely ineffective, and instead try humidifiers, gargling with warm water, and drinking plenty of fluids — to ease congestion and a sore throat. He also prefers a saline nasal rinse over decongestants because many decongestants contain pseudoephedrine, which can raise blood pressure and be problematic for patients who already have elevated levels.“The first thing I tell patients is rest,” Chaoui said. “That will help the body fight the virus.”While this flu season’s powerful second punch is unusual, what is not surprising is the age of patients who are suffering the hardest blows: young children and older adults. State data show the rate of emergency room visits for acute respiratory symptoms are highest among children five and younger, as well as patients over 65.AdvertisementSimilarly, those who end up being admitted to the hospital are most commonly patients who are 80 and older.Flu seasons vary in severity, but usually it’s people 65 and older who suffer more severe complications, in part because the immune system changes with age making it harder to bounce back from colds and flu. More than 70 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“It’s never too late for a shot. Ever,” said Dr. Sandeep S. Jubbal, an infectious diseases specialist at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. It would not prevent an infection, but it could make the disease milder, he said.Not everyone hospitalized with the flu is there because of its symptoms, said Jubbal. As in years past,he has seen patients admitted for other health problems who also ended up testing positive for flu.Recently, however, two patients were admitted because of serious complications from the flu. Both had weakened immune systems and, notably, neither had had a flu shot, he said.Yes, but the flu has steamrolled right past them, according to state data.The latest numbers show that roughly 20 percent of emergency department visits in Massachusetts were from patients suffering acute respiratory disease. Nearly half were because of the flu. Only about 1 percent were linked to COVID, and less than a half of one percent attributed to RSV, another respiratory virus.The rest were not associated with a specific disease. Though there is plenty of respiratory misery going around, said Chaoui, the Peabody family physician.“There is the common cold, too” he said. “It’s a salad of viruses out there right now.”AdvertisementKay Lazar can be reached at kay.lazar@globe.com Follow her @GlobeKayLazar.Digital AccessHome DeliveryGift SubscriptionsLog InManage My AccountCustomer ServiceDelivery IssuesFeedbackNews TipsHelp & FAQsStaff ListAdvertiseNewslettersView the ePaperOrder Back IssuesNews in EducationSearch the ArchivesPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceTerms of PurchaseWork at Boston Globe MediaInternship ProgramCo-op ProgramDo Not Sell My Personal Information

Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/14/metro/flu-virus-covid-record/