Jan 9, 2026 - Health
Louisiana battles severe flu season
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This flu season is shaping up as one of the most severe in recent memory — and it could get even worse.
- At least 11 million people have gotten sick, 120,000 have been hospitalized and 5,000 have died from the flu so far this season, per the latest CDC estimates.
- Louisiana has had five flu-related deaths so far, including a child, officials said this week.
This season's outbreak is largely fueled by a so-called "super flu" — the "subclade K" variant of the H3N2 virus, which itself is a subtype of influenza A.
- That variant differs from what's in the latest flu shots, raising concerns that the vaccine may offer less protection.
- Still, experts recommend getting vaccinated anyway. Dr. Nehal Galal, a primary care physician at New York-Presbyterian and Columbia: "While it may not prevent illness entirely, it can still help reduce your risk of serious complications."
Nearly 44% of U.S. adults reported getting a flu shot as of Dec. 27, 2025, the CDC says, up from 41.6% at the same time the previous year.