42 Flu Deaths In PA As Case Rates Increase Rapidly

Influenza has led to 42 deaths in Pennsylvania thus far this season, according to the state Department of Health, as hospitalizations and cases continue to mount across the region and much of the world.

It's at least partly due to the latest subclade K mutation, which has mutated seven times, making influenza a more serious threat than in years past.

The state has seen 50,221 flu cases thus far this season, along with 4,922 adult hospitalizations and 1,234 pediatric hospitalizations, according to the state's most recently available data, published on Jan. 3.

"Flu activity in Pennsylvania is stable, but remains very high," a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health told Patch Tuesday. "While increases in respiratory viruses are typical during winter months, there are indications that this respiratory virus season may be more intense than usual, and the full impact will not be apparent for weeks."

Compared to previous years at this point in the season, Pennsylvania is seeing the second highest flu rate of any year in the past seven years, trailing only 2022-23.

Cases appear to be most concentrated in eastern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, according to the state's statistics, with far higher infection rates in urban areas than in rural center of the state, as is typical.

The CDC said the present influenza wave is expected to last several weeks.

The state has not yet recommended any special safety measures, though it's not clear if that will change as numbers continue to increase.

Subclade K's infection rates are compounded because it emerged after the vaccine was already chosen for much of the Northern Hemisphere last February. Once the mutation became established, there wasn’t time to develop a better-matched vaccine. That leaves more people susceptible because the virus has found a way to evade pre-existing immunity from either an infection or vaccination.

State leaders have strongly and repeatedly recommended that residents get vaccinated against the flu.

"Early data show this year’s flu vaccine is effective at reducing influenza-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions," the Department of Health told Patch. "Public health experts consistently state that the vaccine still provides strong protection against severe illness."

Respiratory illness activity in Pennsylvania is currently "very high" according to the CDC's community snapshot analysis, which provides a high level glance at key trends and benchmarks. Emergency department visits for the flu are also "very high," while they are "moderate" but increasing rapidly for COVID-19.

The severe flu season is not restricted to the United States, as other countries including the U.K., Canada, Japan and Australia, have also seen significant numbers.