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El Paso Faces Severe Flu Season as New Strain Spreads Rapidly

KVIA•Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM•CNN Newsource

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The flu is surging across the United States, with nearly all states reporting high levels of activity, marking the worst season in over two decades. The CDC indicates that around 11 million cases have been reported this season, with 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, including nine children. Health officials are urging vaccinations, emphasizing that it’s not too late to protect oneself and the community. The new strain, subclade K, is contributing to the severity, as it has shown the ability to evade some immune defenses. Residents are encouraged to get vaccinated promptly as the flu season is expected to last several more weeks.

Key Details: • Vaccination is critical; get vaccinated within the next 48 hours if not already done. • CDC reports 11 million flu cases this season; 120,000 hospitalizations. • Nine children have died from influenza this season. • Flu vaccinations have dropped significantly; only 42% of children vaccinated this season. • The new flu strain, subclade K, is causing increased severity.

community health flu vaccination epidemic

People & Organizations

CDCAmerican Academy of PediatricsDr. Michael OsterholmDr. Caitlin RiversDr. Robbie GoldsteinDr. Sean O’LearyJohns Hopkins Center for Health Security

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