Flu season forecast shows a dramatic increase of flu cases
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
The flu season officially started on October 1, and according to the latest data, it is on track to be similar to the flu seasons before the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the National Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated that there will be up to 18,000 new hospital admissions for influenza nationwide before Dec. 30, and North Dakota could see an increase of up to 600 percent based on some of the forecast models published by the CDC.
The CDC has said that seasonal influenza activity is elevated in most parts of the country, with the southeast, south-central, and west coast areas of the country reporting the highest levels of activity. However, North Dakota, while not in these “hot zones” is one of the states expected to see a sharp increase in flu cases over the next two weeks.