Is It a “Super Flu”? What Doctors Are Seeing This Season

This flu season has been particularly severe, prompting headlines about a so-called “super flu.” According to Kyle Gerakopoulos, M.D., medical director at Baptist Health Emergency Care in South Florida, the term may be dramatic, but it reflects a very real surge in flu cases, hospitalizations and complications across the U.S.

Several factors are driving this intense season. One is the circulation of a highly contagious flu strain combined with lower vaccination rates compared with last year. Gerakopoulos also notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, flu cases were relatively low, which may have reduced population-level immunity. Add in winter travel, indoor gatherings and seasonal patterns, and the result is a flu season that feels harsher than those of the past few years.

The dominant strain this year is influenza A H3N2, which historically causes more severe illness than other flu types such as H1N1 or influenza B. This strain is associated with higher rates of hospitalization and death, particularly among adults over 65 and children. A newer subtype that has undergone multiple mutations is contributing to the increased disease burden being seen in emergency rooms.

Compared with recent years, this season more closely resembles prepandemic “bad flu years,” with millions of Americans infected, thousands hospitalized and tragic pediatric deaths reported. Predicting flu patterns has also become more difficult since the pandemic, making it harder for clinicians and patients alike to anticipate how severe a season will be.

Gerakopoulos urges patients to listen to their bodies and seek care early if symptoms worsen. Warning signs include confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme weakness, dehydration, very high fevers that don’t improve, or fevers that improve and then return, which are sometimes a sign of secondary complications. People with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure should seek care if those conditions become difficult to manage during illness.

Antiviral medications are available and are most effective when started within the first 48 hours of symptoms, especially for high-risk individuals. Importantly, it is not too late to get a flu vaccine. Flu activity is expected to continue into the spring, and this year’s vaccine is a reasonably good match to circulating strains. Even in years when the match is imperfect, vaccination has been shown to reduce illness severity, hospitalizations and deaths.

Beyond vaccination, basic prevention still matters: staying home when sick, masking in crowded spaces, washing hands, covering coughs, prioritizing rest and hydration, and protecting vulnerable individuals. Early care and prevention, Gerakopoulos emphasizes, can make a critical difference this flu season.