After a record week of flu activity in the US, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise. About 40,000 people were admitted to the hospital with flu during the week ending January 3, according to data published Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10% more than the 36,600 hospitalizations in the week before.
Overall, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 15 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths from flu this season.
Flu activity “remains elevated across the country,” and the CDC says it expects that to continue for several more weeks. More than a dozen states have flu activity levels in the highest category that the agency tracks. CDC surveillance data published last week showed that flu-like activity in the US had reached the highest level on record since the agency started tracking about 30 years ago.
CNN’s Victor Blackwell shares his personal experience with the flu last week, and speaks with NAACP Center for Health Equity director Dr. Chris T. Pernell. CNN medical correspondent Meg Tirrell also reports.
0:00 Victor Blackwell on battling the flu
1:39 What high-risk communities need to know
6:28 CNN medical correspondent reports
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