BUFFALO, N.Y. — Five years since the COVID pandemic, medical professionals are seeing a shift in respiratory illnesses this winter season.

“Essentially what we’re seeing is right now influenza cases are still rising, they haven’t yet peaked, which is a little bit unusual,” said Dr. Angela Branche, associate professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester.

What You Need To Know

  • An increase in the influenza virus and an increase in hospitalizations from the flu have been seen around the country and here at home this flu season

  • The increase comes as there has been a decrease in hospitalizations from COVID     

  • Flu season has not yet hit it’s peak, but so far the CDC has estimated at least 16 million cases of the flu nationwide this year

Usually by the end of January, flu cases will have peaked and begin to decline. However, this season has been a very active flu season, with flu cases and hospitalizations still rising.

“The 2017-2018 season was probably the last really bad season we had. And I wouldn’t be surprised if this season turns out to be pretty similar to that,” Branche said. 

As flu hospitalizations rise, the nation has seen a decrease in COVID hospitalizations this season.

“I’m thankful we don’t have a lot of COVID deaths this year and not as many hospitalizations this winter season as we’ve seen previously, but maybe that’s partly because everybody’s sick with the flu,” Branche said.

And medical professionals are reminding people that the flu can be just as dangerous. The CDC estimates that there have been nearly 200,000 hospitalizations and more than 8,000 deaths from flu so far this season.

“Influenza can and does cause fatalities every year. Anywhere from 10 to 90,000 deaths in the United States every year are caused by influenza infections," Branche said.

And this year those numbers hit close to home.

“That’s relatively uncommon locally. We don’t see tens or hundreds of deaths locally, but we are seeing deaths this season, and that’s worrisome,” Branche said. 

Which is why even with COVID hospitalizations down, professionals urge people to remember their impact. 

“You might want to consider putting into practice some things we learned in the pandemic," Branche said.

Things like masking, washing hands frequently, and social distancing still an important part of staying healthy.

“It’s not too late to get vaccinated. So if you haven’t, talk to your doctor or visit your local pharmacy," Branche said. "Vaccines are widely available for influenza in our community."