What to know about the "super flu" in Texas
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Texas is among a handful of states reporting the highest level of flu activity, according to the latest CDC data, mirroring a national surge tied to the so-called "super flu."
Why it matters: An unprecedented rise in flu cases comes as other sicknesses — such as the "winter vomiting bug," COVID and whooping cough — are slamming the U.S. this winter.
- Austin health officials reported a 58% increase in whooping cough cases by the end of 2025 compared to the previous year.
Between the lines: The rise also arrives as chaos has enveloped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with many questions about vaccination schedules for children.
Driving the news: There have been at least 15 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths from flu so far this season, per CDC data released Friday.
Zoom in: The number of Texans visiting ERs for the flu more than doubled between the week ending in Dec. 13 and the week ending in Dec. 27, but dropped off by more than 11,000 visits by Jan. 3, per the Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Plus, about 5% of visits to clinics and hospitals in Austin and Travis County were for flu-like illnesses at the end of December, a spike from roughly 2% in the middle of that month.
Reality check: There isn't an official "super flu."
- The term emerges every so often, typically when there's a more severe than usual strain of the flu circulating, experts say.
- This time around, subclade K is being associated with the term.
- The most recent CDC tracking data shows that 90% of new flu cases in the country were from subclade K, which appears to be the super flu this time around.