Flu deaths surpass COVID-19 for 1st time since pandemic began: 5 updates

For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, more people in the U.S. died of influenza than from COVID-19, according to CDC data for the week ending Jan. 25. 

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By: Alexandra Murphy

In addition, the most recent CDC data — updated Feb. 14 — found high levels of respiratory virus activity across the U.S., with flu-related emergency department visits remaining very high, RSV-related visits at moderate levels and COVID-19 visits at low levels. 

Nineteen states reported “high” respiratory virus activity: Montana, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. 

Twelve states reported “very high” activity: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New Hampshire. 

Here are four more respiratory illness updates: 

  1. Nearly 1.7% of all deaths nationwide were attributed to flu, compared to approximately 1.5% from COVID-19. 
  2. Influenza test positivity rose to 31.6%, while COVID-19 test positivity was 4.8% and RSV positivity was 6.8%. 
  3. Wastewater surveillance indicated very high levels of influenza A, high levels of COVID-19 and low levels of RSV. 
  4. The CDC predicted influenza-related emergency visits will remain high but begin to decline in the coming weeks, while COVID-19 visits are expected to stay low. 
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