Children’s National Hospital is sounding the alarm after pediatric flu cases spiked roughly 80% in just one week, sending more kids into emergency rooms and packing clinic waiting areas. DC Health logged 136 confirmed influenza cases in the District for the week of Feb. 15–21 and reports more than 5,400 flu cases so far this season.
Hospital leaders and public health officials took their concerns to local media after the sudden jump. According to DC News Now, Children’s National reported the 80% week-over-week increase in pediatric flu, while surveillance from DC Health reflects the mid-February rise and the season-long total.
Doctors See RSV On Top Of Flu; Young Kids Hit Hard
Physicians at Children’s National told reporters they are also seeing a bump in RSV cases on top of influenza, and that younger children are showing up sicker than usual. “Symptoms in young children can be more severe than in adults,” Dr. Gabrina Dixon said in an interview with DC News Now. The hospital added that overall respiratory virus cases, including flu and RSV, rose about 15% during the same week.
How Families Can Lower The Risk
Health officials are urging parents to get kids caught up on flu shots, lean on frequent handwashing, and keep sick children home so they are not spreading germs in classrooms and daycare. According to DC Health, vaccination remains the strongest protection, and clinicians may prescribe antiviral medications for children who are at higher risk or who have more severe illness when that treatment is appropriate.
Parents are advised to call a pediatrician early if a child has trouble breathing, signs of dehydration, or a persistent high fever, rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
Where This Fits In Nationally
The surge in Washington aligns with a broader national pattern of elevated pediatric flu activity this season. Federal surveillance from the CDC’s FluView reports pediatric hospitalization rates at levels not seen in more than a decade, a backdrop that helps explain why local hospitals are doubling down on vaccination messages and early treatment.
Children’s National and District health officials say they are closely watching hospital capacity while repeating a familiar public health playbook: get vaccinated, wash hands often, and keep sick kids home. Those basic moves, they argue, are still the best shot at protecting the youngest patients as flu season grinds on.
