Flu season in Southern Colorado: By the numbers, what is the risk?
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - A Colorado elementary school-aged child was the first influenza death of the year in the United States.
"We offer our condolences to the family and are deeply saddened by this tragic loss," Hope Shuler, CDPHE spokesperson, told our Denver news partners 9News.
Shuler added that across the state, hospitalizations for the flu are four times higher than they were last year but still below the 2022 level.
This chart from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) shows just the 2025 respiratory illness season. The past week saw a sharp increase in hospitalizations for influenza. That high point marks 241 people sent to the hospital, or 4.10 per 100,000 for the week ending on December 6. Since October 1, there have been 728 flu hospitalizations.
What about El Paso County?
El Paso County is also seeing a recent uptick in flu cases to kick off December, according to the public health department. In the first week of December, the health department tracked 21 cases of influenza, continuing a steady increase that began on November 15, when only three cases were reported.
"Talk to your provider. Try to get vaccinated. It's the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones," says Dr. David Hill from the American Lung Association.
In areas where the flu has taken off early, experts are seeing a strain called subclade k, adding urgency for vulnerable segments of our population, such as the elderly, the very young, or those with pre-existing health issues, to get vaxxed.
"The flu and COVID tend to lead to higher hospitalization rates and higher deaths in that population, so getting vaccinated is really important for that group of people," says Dr. Hill.
An interesting caveat for this season is that the subclade k strain was not among those specifically targeted by this year's flu vaccine, which experts say happens some years.
However, a CDPHE spokesperson said the vaccine can still be helpful in keeping you out of the hospital.
Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.
