Michigan flu cases are up. What that means for residents

Flu activity in Michigan is taken into account “very excessive,” in line with the newest report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospital wards are flooded and treating sufferers with flu as seasonal flu charges stay excessive throughout the nation.

The CDC estimates there have been a minimum of 15 million diseases, 180,000 hospitalizations and seven,400 deaths from flu nationwide this season.

As of January 9, MDHHS has confirmed no influenza-associated deaths amongst youngsters in Michigan for the 2025-2026 season.

Dr. Aarti Raheja, a pediatrician at College of Michigan Well being and co-chair of the Michigan Medication Immunization Committee, stated the area is seeing “quite a bit” of circumstances of each influenza A and influenza B.

“Flu will not be a light sickness for a lot of youngsters,” Raheja advised the Free Press. “Yearly, youngsters turn out to be severely in poor health from flu problems that would even have been prevented by vaccination. A few of these youngsters require intensive care, and plenty of youngsters and adolescents who die from flu will not be vaccinated.

This is every thing it’s essential to find out about Michigan’s newest flu wave:

What number of flu circumstances does Michigan have?

In accordance with the January 9, 2025, Flu focus report, decreased 10% week over week with 11,756 inpatient visits and 117,121 outpatient visits.

Who ought to get the flu shot?

The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months and older get vaccinated towards the flu. These at larger threat for flu embrace:

• Adults aged 65 and over
• Individuals with continual well being issues
• Youngsters 5 years and beneath
• Pregnant girls

What are signs of flu?

In accordance with the CDCflu signs can embrace:

• Fever or feeling of fever/chills
• Cough
• A sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nostril
• Muscle or physique ache
• Headache
• Fatigue (fatigue)
• Some folks could expertise vomiting and diarrhea, though that is extra frequent in youngsters than adults.

How lengthy does the flu season final?

In accordance with the Cleveland Clinic, flu season lasts into the spring and normally tapers off in Could. Influenza viruses can unfold all yr spherical.

How lengthy does flu A final?

Most wholesome adults get well from the flu inside 5 to seven days, though signs similar to fatigue, coughing, and sinus strain can final till days 5 to seven. Your fever ought to be passed by day 4, whereas it isn’t frequent for coughing/fatigue to final till day seven – and you should still really feel “unwell”.

In the event you nonetheless have a fever after seven days, or if signs worsen, similar to shortness of breath, or chest ache persists, contact a health care provider.

Is the H2N2 flu A or B?

H2N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which mutated into a number of strains and brought on the 1957 influenza pandemic often called “Asian flu.” Influenza A has the subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, the present flu presently spreading within the US.

What’s subclade Okay?

The brand new “tremendous flu” is a mutation of flu A, referred to as H3N2 subclade Okay. Flu B has no subtype; As a substitute, influenza B has lineages, referred to as Flu B/Yamagata and B/Victoria, According to the CDC.

Signs of the tremendous flu virus

The subclade Okay variant of influenza A causes comparable signs to different variants, together with excessive fever, extreme physique aches, excessive fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and extreme headache. Not everybody will get the flu, the CDC says.

With the 2025-2026 flu season expect it to be worse than normalflu circumstances are rising quickly in Michigan because the virus spreads by colleges forward of winter break. Some hospitals in Michigan have felt the rise in flu exercise.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter on the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.