The flu season is hitting children hard, with tragic consequences. Some are not surviving. This year, the influenza season has arrived with a vengeance, and it's proving particularly devastating for one of our most vulnerable populations: children. Across the United States, several states have reported their first pediatric flu deaths, and the numbers are concerning. Cases and hospitalizations are climbing, with some areas experiencing unprecedented surges in illness.
Due to the lag in data reporting, the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is almost two weeks old. However, the data still paints a grim picture. As of December 20, flu activity was high or very high in 32 regions of the U.S. and moderate in 8 other jurisdictions. The cumulative flu hospitalization rate in week 51 was also the third highest it's been in the past 15 years, with the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons also being high.
Tragic Losses
Some states are facing even more severe situations. For instance, New York health officials reported the largest weekly surge in flu cases ever recorded, with 71,123 positive cases during the week of December 20. The CDC has documented at least eight pediatric flu deaths this winter, and sadly, this number is likely higher, as local health officials and the public have reported additional cases.
For example, the Kentucky Department for Public Health reported its first pediatric flu death of the 2025-26 season on December 30: a child from Kenton County who was not vaccinated. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported its first pediatric flu death the following day, involving a teenager from Greene County. Adding to the heartbreak, Paul Kim, a popular social media influencer, announced the death of his five-year-old son after a severe flu bout.
“This death is tragic and our hearts go out to the family,” said Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “It also reminds us that influenza, though common, is a serious health threat, and we urge parents to protect their kids.”
A Record-Breaking Bad Winter?
Even during a typical flu season, millions of Americans fall ill, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and tens of thousands die. But could we be facing two exceptionally bad seasons in a row? Last winter, at least 280 children in the U.S. died from the flu, the highest death toll in children for a non-pandemic flu in modern history.
But here's where it gets controversial... This season is driven by the emergence of subclade K, an H3N2 variant that differs genetically from the strains scientists predicted. Since its appearance towards the end of the Southern Hemisphere's winter, K has quickly become the leading cause of flu cases worldwide, including in the U.S. While this variant doesn’t appear to cause more severe infections on average, it has caused strong, early, or prolonged waves of illness in various parts of the world, including the UK, Japan, and Australia.
And this is the part most people miss... Although the seasonal flu vaccine is not a perfect match for subclade K, it's still recommended to get vaccinated if you haven't already. Data from the UK suggests that vaccination this season is still effective in preventing serious flu complications, especially in children.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the current flu season is being taken seriously enough? Are you concerned about the impact on children? Share your opinions in the comments below!
