By Madi Poole, Health and wellness reporter
A look into what Influenza, a viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs, and also better known as “the flu”, has done and caused this year for all ages. Giving you a 2025 flu update from how many people got their flu shot this year to how many suffered from the flu this year and just how intense was this year’s flu season compared to past years?
Why it matters: The flu continues to take over each year, this year produced some new records on flu rates and deaths caused by the flu taking precautions where needed like getting your flu vaccine can be critical especially those of high risk.
- As of February 1st, 2025 the CDC has reported that 45% of adults have received a flu vaccination and 45.7% of children have received a flu vaccination.
- These rates are just about the same as compared to last year. Unable to see a huge increase in people getting their flu shots each year.
- While only less than half the United States received their flu vaccination it has been reported that the CDC estimates at least 24 million people have had the seasonal flu this season.
- Of the 24 million who caught the flu this season 310,000 were hospitalized and 13,000 deaths caused by the flu this 2024-2025 flu season, 57 of those deaths were children.
The Big Picture: Looking at statistics from just a few weeks ago it was reported for the week of January 25th through February 1st:
- 31.6% of people who visited a doctors tested positive for the flu
- 48,661 people with the flu were admitted into the hospital
- 2% of deaths attributed to the flu
- 10 pediatric deaths due to the flu were all reported in just one week.
Jaymie Bollman, a pediatric nurse, tells us about how bad it has been in her office for the flu this year “I have been at this office for four years now and this has probably been the most intense flu season I have seen yet.” Bollman tells us that she has seen children ranging from all ages come in and test positive for the flu “Seeing the flu in kids is not super rare just because once it starts in school it doesn’t stop for a while but we have had kids from three years old all the way to 17 come in here and test positive for it just in the past two weeks.”
Zoom In: One aspect of this year’s flu season that surprised doctors was for the first time since the pandemic there was a week that had more deaths caused by the flu than COVID-19. CBS News reported the week ending on January 25th, 2025:
- 1.7% of all deaths reported were due to the flu
- 1.5% were reported due to COVID-19
- Rates of hospitalizations due to the flu were three times higher than COVID-19 because of this season’s record high of Influenza cases.
Luke Darrah talked to us right after having the flu, comparing it to COVID-19 “I have had both Covid and the flu multiple times but the flu I had this year was worse than any other year and worse than when I had covid.” Darrah tells us a little about the symptoms he was feeling this time around “I just felt very weak and exhausted but the congestion was the worst part. I struggled breathing out of my nose for a while.”
What we’re watching for: Moving forward this year as “flu season” comes to an end precautions should still be taken. The CDC always recommends health advice on how to avoid or minimize the chance of getting the flu. The CDC recommends:
- Everyone six months or older should get a flu vaccine
- Stay at home when you are sick
- Cover your nose and mouth
- Clean your hands
- Practice good hygiene and other healthy habits
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