Weekly numbers show that 2% of U.S. deaths for week 5 were due to the flu. COVID was responsible for 1.5% of deaths in the nation, the numbers show.

Partial CDC data suggest that influenza deaths may have already reached as high as 2% of deaths for the week ending on Feb. 1, also surpassing COVID-19 mortality nationwide which was holding at around 1.5%. More complete data is expected to be published Friday.

California health officials say flu activity is high and increasing. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months or older get a flu shot.

During the first years of the COVID pandemic, elevated precautions mostly suppressed the perennial flu outbreaks that typically kill between 10,000 and 50,000 people annually in the United States.

For the week ending Jan. 25, seasonal flu activity remains high and increasing. Clinical laboratories tested 129,378 specimens for flu viruses. Of these, 29.4% were positive. Among the positive results, influenza A accounted for 36,471 (95.9%) of positive flu cases, and influenza B accounted for 1,571 (4.1%).

For the first time the pandemic began, deaths from influenza have outpaced deaths from COVID-19 in 22 states, plus New York City and Washington, D.C. Dr. Jon LaPook has the latest numbers.

COVID-19, according to CDC data. Rates of influenza hospitalizations are more than three times higher than COVID-19 hospitalizations amid this season's record wave of flu infections. Partial CDC data suggest that influenza deaths may have already reached as high as 2% of deaths for the week ending on Feb.

A surge in flu cases has doctors’ offices and hospitals packed across the state. Physicians say are seeing a jump in coughing, sneezing, and other flu symptoms for the second time this season. Health officials are saying we are on track to seeing one of the worst flu seasons in 15 years.