Flu hospitalizations still high in Colorado

Colorado is experiencing a continued spike in flu cases this winter as the "super flu" races through the state.

Why it matters: An unprecedented rise in flu cases comes as other illnesses — such as the "winter vomiting bug," COVID-19 and whooping cough — are surging nationwide.

• It also arrives as chaos has enveloped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with many questions about vaccination schedules for children.

Driving the news: Colorado set a record at the end of December for flu hospitalizations reported in one week at 791 — the highest since state health officials began tracking them in 2004.

• The latest numbers, released Wednesday, show a decrease, but hospitalizations remain elevated with 737 cases through Jan. 3.

The big picture: Cases of the flu remain elevated nationwide, according to data from the CDC.

• New CDC data shows that there's been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season.
• Many of these cases have been tied to "subclade K" — a variant of the H3N2 virus, which is a subtype of influenza A.
• Experts and patients say subclade K is an example of the "super flu," referring to a strain that spreads quickly and rapidly, becoming more troublesome.

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