This news article reports on the severity of the current flu season, with experts urging vaccination as cases surge. It highlights the impact on schools and hospitals, citing personal experiences and data analysis. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are already studying the circulating flu viruses to prepare for next year's vaccine.
Flu Season Hits Hard This Year, Experts Urge Vaccination as Cases Surge Thursday, February 6, 2025 10:47 PMIt seems like almost everyone knows someone who has had the flu recently. 'Right now our 9-year-old is at home sick with the flu, type A,' said Daisy Melendez of Cherry Hill, N.J. 'It's pretty tough. He has a fever.'The attendance hasn't been that great coming off of winter break,' said teacher Gabby Smith of Bridesburg.
'A lot of the staff are getting hit hard with it, and they've been out for like a week, week and a half at a time.' Doctors are saying this is one of the worst flu seasons we've seen in years, including at Virtua Health in New Jersey. 'We're being inundated with patients needing to be hospitalized for influenza,' said Dr. Martin Topiel, Infection Prevention Officer for Virtua Health. 'Our emergency rooms are being visited to such a large extent.'Data analyzed by our 6abc data journalism team shows a second surge of flu cases this season - one that we didn't see last year. New Jersey's influenza activity is at the highest level designated by the CDC -- higher than Pennsylvania and Delaware. 'The way the season is extending at this point and the severity, we would recommend everyone who hasn't had a vaccination to go out and try to get protected,' said Topiel.But folks at the University of Pennsylvania are already working on studies that will help with next year's flu shot. 'It's very important to make these measurements in real-time. We want to understand what's going on, not only this season, but we want to start preparing for next flu season as well,' said Dr. Scott Hensley, a professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania. 'My lab is measuring antibodies from vaccinated individuals and we're determining how well these antibodies can bind to the viruses actually circulating through Philadelphia today.' And of course, many are planning on getting together Sunday for the Super Bowl, which is another chance to spread whatever is going around.Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved
FLU SEASON VACCINATION SURGE HOSPITALIZATIONS CDC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
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