Partial CDC data suggest that influenza deaths may have already reached as high as 2% of deaths for the week ending on Feb. 1, also surpassing COVID-19 mortality nationwide which was holding at around 1.5%. More complete data is expected to be published Friday.

Last year there were 207 pediatric deaths attributed to the flu, NBC News reported. The CDC said the number of cases is elevated and continues to increase. For the fifth week of the year, there were 4,377 cases reported with 4,264 being influenza A and 113 being B. The highest number of cases were found in 10 states and New York City.

During the first years of the COVID pandemic, elevated precautions mostly suppressed the perennial flu outbreaks that typically kill between 10,000 and 50,000 people annually in the United States.

COVID-19, according to CDC data. Rates of influenza hospitalizations are more than three times higher than COVID-19 hospitalizations amid this season's record wave of flu infections. Partial CDC data suggest that influenza deaths may have already reached as high as 2% of deaths for the week ending on Feb.

Flu deaths have surpassed COVID-19 in California for the first time since the pandemic, with concerns over low vaccination rates and a likely severe flu season.

For the first time the pandemic began, deaths from influenza have outpaced deaths from COVID-19 in 22 states, plus New York City and Washington, D.C. Dr. Jon LaPook has the latest numbers.