The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is estimating some 6,150,000 – 7,280,000 influenza cases in the 2018-2019 flu season as of Jan. 5.

sick
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Officials say this accounts for 2,920,000 – 3,510,00 medical visits to date and 69,300 – 83,500 hospitalizations.

The cumulative burden of influenza is an estimate of the number of people who have been sick, seen a healthcare provider, been hospitalized, or died as a result of influenza since October 01, 2018.

CDC does not know the exact number of people who have been sick and affected by influenza because influenza is not a reportable disease in most areas of the United States. However, these numbers are estimated using a mathematical model, based on observed rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations.

The 2018-2019 flu season is the first season CDC has reported in-season burden estimates of flu in the U.S.


Flu activity is elevated throughout much of the country, with 30 states reporting widespread flu activity, according to the CDC.

H1N1 viruses have been the most commonly identified flu viruses nationally. However, H3N2 viruses have predominated in the southeastern region of the United States.