About Estimated Flu Burden

What to know

Each year CDC estimates the burden of influenza in the United States. CDC uses models to estimate the number of flu illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths related to flu that occurred in a given season. CDC uses the estimates of the burden of flu in the population and the impact of flu vaccination to inform policy and communications related to flu.

Purple viruses floating against a cream background

Overview

Preliminary In-Season Disease Burden Estimates‎

CDC provides weekly, preliminary estimates of the cumulative in-season numbers of flu illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States.

Estimated Range of Annual Burden of Flu in the US from 2010 – 2023

The burden of flu disease in the United States can vary widely and is determined by a number of factors including the characteristics of circulating viruses, the timing of the season, how well flu vaccine is working to protect against illness, and how many people got vaccinated. While the burden of flu can vary, each year flu places a substantial burden on the health of people in the United States each year.

graphic of flu burden cases
Estimated Range of Annual Burden of Flu in the U.S. from 2010 – 2023

CDC estimates that flu has resulted in 9.3 million – 41 million illnesses, 100,000 – 710,000 hospitalizations and 4,900 – 51,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2023.

Estimated U.S. Flu Burden, By Season

Estimated U.S. Influenza Burden, By Season (2010-2023)
Estimated U.S. Flu Burden, By Season

Estimates are not available for the 2020-2021 season due to minimal flu activity.

Download Flu Burden PowerPoint Presentation Slides [PPT, 1 MB, 4 pages]

Supporting Research

Flu-related illness and hospitalization

United States

Global

Visit Flu Burden Averted by Vaccination for CDC estimates of flu-related illness and hospitalization averted by vaccination.

Flu-related deaths

Economic impact of flu