By Salma El-Sakka
Nearly 50 people have died from influenza across the United States in the past week as cases surge more than two months earlier than typical, according to federal and state health officials.
Connecticut Deaths Highlight Early Surge
In Connecticut, six people over the age of 55 have died from the flu since late September, the state health department reported. The first death occurred in September, a month earlier than during the 2025 season. “These deaths are a sobering reminder that flu can be serious, especially for older adults, and that respiratory virus season is already here,” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, the state’s health commissioner.
National Trend Shows Unusually Early Peak
Nationally, 47 flu-related deaths were confirmed in the past week, with roughly 5,600 cases recorded so far this season. Peak flu season usually runs from December to February, but current levels are rising far ahead of schedule. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates flu causes between 9.4 million and 51 million illnesses annually, with 6,300 to 52,000 deaths.
H1N1 Strain Dominates Cases
Federal data shows the H1N1 strain, which drove the 2009 swine flu pandemic, accounts for the majority of recent infections. Two child flu deaths have been reported in San Diego and one in Colorado, where University of California Health says positive tests are six times higher than at the same point last year.
Vaccine Effectiveness and Urgency
This year’s vaccine targets H1N1, the B/Victoria virus, and subclade K, a variant of H3N2 that circulated last year. Early evidence suggests the shot is a good match against the H3N2 variant, said Scott Hensley, a microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Andrew Pekosz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted the H1N1 variant has new mutations allowing partial immune escape, but the vaccine can still recognize it.
Experts Urge Vaccination Before Holidays
Health officials emphasize that vaccination now provides the best protection before holiday gatherings increase indoor spread. “It takes about two weeks for the body to build protection, and getting vaccinated now will help provide protection for the holiday season when people gather indoors,” Juthani said. Flu season generally runs from September or October into April or May, and officials say it is never too late to get a flu shot.
