'So much flu': What to know as flu season ramps up early this year
This year’s flu season has arrived earlier than usual and is hitting harder across the USA. Several states, including New York, Colorado, New Jersey, and Louisiana, are reporting severe outbreaks. A mutated strain of the H3N2 virus is making the 2025 season particularly intense, with New York City now classified as having 'very high' influenza activity.
Hospitals in affected areas are feeling the strain. At Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dr. Suchitra Rao confirmed the emergency department is full due to a surge in flu cases. The virus is disproportionately impacting children, with unvaccinated kids facing a higher risk of hospitalisation.
Classic flu symptoms include high fevers, body aches, extreme fatigue, severe headaches, and dizziness. Health officials urge anyone showing these signs to stay home to avoid spreading the illness, especially to vulnerable groups. Demand for Tamiflu has spiked nationwide, leaving some pharmacies struggling to keep up. The antiviral works best when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing and is prioritised for high-risk patients. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccines for everyone aged six months and older. Michigan has also seen a sharp rise in cases, joining Colorado and other states in battling the early and aggressive flu wave.
The 2025 flu season is proving more severe and earlier than in previous years. With hospitals under pressure and antiviral supplies stretched, health authorities are reinforcing the importance of vaccination and isolation for those infected. The CDC’s guidance remains clear: vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.
