After a record week of flu activity in the U.S., hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise. About 40,000 people were admitted to the hospital with flu during the week ending January 3, according to the CDC, about 10% more than the 36,600 hospitalizations in the week before. Overall, there were about 12 flu hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the US last week, CDC data shows. Seniors are most likely to be hospitalized with flu, but rates among children are also high. At least 17 children have died from the flu this season, the CDC says — a number that nearly doubled over the past week, with eight new deaths reported. Four of the pediatric flu deaths this season have been in Massachusetts, including two children in Boston who were under the age of 2.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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