The flu is exploding across the country, with hospital admissions soaring by nearly double in just one week. Imagine the strain on our healthcare system—it's a wake-up call for everyone to stay vigilant. But here's where it gets concerning: could this be the start of a pattern we're not prepared for? Let's dive into the details and see what experts are saying about this alarming trend.
Dr. Jennifer Goebel, a dedicated attending physician at South Shore University Hospital, part of the Northwell Health system in New York, shared that her team noticed a flood of flu patients right around Thanksgiving, possibly even sooner. 'I can't recall flu hitting this hard and this early in the season,' she explained. 'It feels more intense, with an overwhelming number of cases coming through our doors.'
Similarly, Dr. Donald Yealy, chief medical officer for the UPMC health network spanning Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York, reported a sharp increase in people arriving with acute respiratory issues over the last couple of weeks. 'The majority of these are suspected flu cases,' he noted, 'and from the tests we've run, it's mostly Influenza A taking center stage.'
Who’s bearing the brunt this flu season? Medical professionals point out that babies and toddlers up to age 4 are among the most affected groups. As cases continue to climb, though, Dr. Lauren Siewny, medical director of Duke University Hospital's Emergency Department in North Carolina, observes that school-aged kids and young adults are also showing up ill. Seniors and those with ongoing health issues are more prone to needing hospital care, she added, and with beds in short supply due to overlapping cases of Covid and RSV alongside the flu, it's a challenging time. 'We have protocols in place for these spikes,' Siewny reassured, 'and we always treat the most critical patients first.'
Yealy emphasized that the flu is impacting every age bracket, but the folks ending up in the hospital or requiring intensive treatment are largely those who haven't gotten vaccinated. They're spotting slight rises in Covid, norovirus, and RSV as well, yet flu remains the dominant player. 'We're smack in the middle of the winter viral period,' he said.
Goebel from South Shore echoed this, stating that cases are widespread across all ages, 'We're seeing it hit everyone pretty evenly.'
And this is the part most people miss—is this new variant really a 'super flu'? The leading strain currently is Influenza A, specifically a rapidly spreading mutated version of H3N2 known as 'subclade K.' H3N2 strains are typically associated with more serious illness, which might be behind the quick jump in hospitalizations (for more on why this flu season is tough, check out this NBC News article: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/why-flu-bad-2025-severity-vaccines-immunity-rcna194250). This altered strain, sometimes called 'super flu' by observers, appeared during the summer and has tweaks to a crucial surface protein that could make it trickier for our bodies' defenses to spot. It's also been linked to harsh, premature flu outbreaks in places like the UK and Japan.
Dr. Wenqing Zhang, leading the World Health Organization’s global respiratory threats division, commented in a recent blog post (https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166604) that the data so far doesn't indicate heightened severity from this variant. 'While there's a significant genetic change in the virus,' she wrote. But here's where it gets controversial—some experts argue that even without a massive spike in severity, the early timing and volume could overwhelm systems, leading to debates on whether we're underestimating its potential impact. What do you think—is labeling it 'super flu' just hype, or a real concern?
What about the symptoms of this flu variant? Dr. Molly Fleece, an associate professor in infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, says they're largely consistent with past seasons. 'They kick in suddenly,' she described. 'Folks experience high fevers, shivers, chills, coughing, breathing difficulties, and body aches.' These can worsen, particularly for those unvaccinated, and elders or people with underlying conditions might face tougher outcomes like pneumonia, muscle wasting, or even seizures.
Goebel mentioned patients complaining of headaches, exhaustion, and sometimes stomach issues such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 'If you're dealing with shortness of breath, persistent high fevers even with medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen, or any other worries, please reach out to a doctor right away,' she advised.
So, should you still get a flu shot? Absolutely, it's never too late, experts insist. The current vaccine includes a H3N2 component, though it's not a perfect match for this mutated version, as Fleece explained. 'That's because the subclade evolved and spread after this year's vaccines were finalized.' Yet, she stressed, that doesn't render the vaccine useless. 'It might mean more folks are at risk of catching the flu, but past evidence shows it's still highly effective in warding off serious sickness, hospital stays, and fatalities.'
Yealy likened it to prepping your immune system in advance. 'The seasonal vaccine equips your body to respond effectively before infection sets in,' he said. 'It can offer solid protection this year.'
Beyond the flu, other winter viruses are making waves. While flu dominates now, Covid cases are ticking up across the nation, per WastewaterScan—a collaborative effort by Stanford and Emory Universities. Levels are elevated in the South, Northeast, and Midwest. Norovirus, which surged late November, remains high and climbing. RSV is also gaining momentum, particularly in southern regions, according to the same data.
Doctors warn that contracting multiple viruses simultaneously could lead to graver health issues. 'One virus doesn't block the others,' Yealy pointed out. 'The real danger is when a respiratory bug exacerbates another existing problem.' For instance, imagine having the flu and then picking up RSV—it could make recovery much harder and increase complications.
Berkeley Lovelace Jr. is a health and medical reporter for NBC News. He covers the Food and Drug Administration, with a special focus on Covid vaccines, prescription drug pricing and health care. He previously covered the biotech and pharmaceutical industry with CNBC.
Patrick Martin
Patrick Martin is a producer in the NBC News Health & Medical Unit.
Kaan Ozcan
Kaan Ozcan is an intern with NBC News' Health and Medical Unit.
What are your thoughts on this flu surge? Do you think labeling it 'super flu' is overblown, or does it highlight a bigger systemic issue in our preparedness? And importantly, have you gotten your flu shot yet? Share your opinions in the comments below—we'd love to hear differing views and spark a conversation!
