{"id":51692,"date":"2025-12-25T03:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T09:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ustower.net\/?p=51692"},"modified":"2025-12-25T06:44:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T12:44:35","slug":"flu-by-state-where-this-seasons-highly-contagious-variant-is-spreading-the-most","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ustower.net\/?p=51692","title":{"rendered":"Flu by state: Where this season\u2019s highly contagious variant is spreading the most"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new form of the flu<\/a>, which is highly contagious and aggressive, is sweeping the nation this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mutation of influenza A H3N2, called subclade K, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, including in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organization stated on its website that the K variant marks “a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses,” which some say calls into question the effectiveness of this season’s influenza vaccine<\/a> against the strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose, according to experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple states in the northeast are reporting high rates of respiratory illness this month. (iStock)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among 216 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since Sept. 28, 89.8% belonged to subclade K, a CDC report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agency continues to release a weekly influenza surveillance report, tracking which states are seeing the most activity for outpatient respiratory illness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are the states and regions within the highest range of reported medical visits, not necessarily confirmed influenza cases, as of the week ending Dec. 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC’s weekly influenza surveillance report, an outpatient respiratory illness activity map, based on data reported to ILINet for the week ending Dec. 13, 2025. (CDC FluView)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very High (Level 1)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n