Flu cases surge as health officials monitor bird flu and Norovirus

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN)— Influenza cases are climbing across the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting a 12% rise in positive flu tests during the week ending Dec. 21. By that date, hospitalizations linked to the flu had reached 12,000, according to the CDC.

Health officials remain primarily concerned about influenza but are also closely monitoring an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu. Dr. Leana Wen, former Baltimore health commissioner, emphasized the need for continued research and urged individuals with respiratory symptoms to get tested.

“There’s a lot about the bird flu and how it’s mutating that we don’t know about,” Wen said.

Dr. Carlos del Rio, chair of Emory University’s Department of Medicine, added that testing and quarantining when sick are critical to preventing the spread of illnesses.

“There’s not yet cases of human-to-human transmission. That can happen at any time. Once that begins, we are, indeed, in for another pandemic,” del Rio warned.

Norovirus, often called the “stomach flu,” has also seen an unusual increase in outbreaks this month, according to the CDC. While not a respiratory illness, it poses additional challenges for health professionals.

The CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older, particularly for high-risk groups, including young children, pregnant individuals, those with chronic health conditions, and adults over 65.

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