We’re in the midst of a extreme and record-breaking flu season all through the US.
Flu-related physician’s visits are at an all-time excessive as hundreds of thousands of individuals come down with the virus. Flu deaths have additionally been reported in states throughout the nation, together with New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oregon and Louisiana.
“This flu season appears to be worse than earlier flu seasons in that we’re seeing extra circumstances and we’re seeing extra hospitalizations related to influenza than we’ve got in earlier years,” stated Suruchi Sood, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins College in Baltimore.
In line with Dr. Jeb Teichman, a former pediatrician and medical adviser for Families Fighting Flu, the U.S. has skilled 15 million flu circumstances thus far this season in comparison with 9.1 million circumstances at this level final yr.
Flu season is anticipated to worsen earlier than it improves. Right here’s what to know.
Flu charges are “excessive” or “very excessive” in additional than half of U.S. states.
In line with data from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, as of the week ending Jan. 3, 2026, flu charges had been “excessive” or “very excessive” throughout greater than half of the nation.
This contains states all around the U.S., reminiscent of New York, Maine, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New Jersey, South Carolina and lots of extra. (See the total, color-coded map of flu exercise beneath.)
Constructive flu take a look at charges are down, however consultants don’t suppose they’ll keep that means.
That stated, constructive flu take a look at charges are down from 32.9% within the final week of December to 24.7% in early January. Whereas this marks a big lower, it doesn’t imply the flu has peaked.
“What the CDC is saying is that individuals weren’t searching for care in the course of the holidays,” Teichman defined. That is possible the rationale behind the drop in circumstances, he added.
If individuals had been sick with the flu however not getting examined, flu charges would seem decrease — even when they’re not.
Sood added that people who already had day without work from work for the vacations might have determined to get higher at residence and never search testing or therapy. So, if of us had been off the week between Christmas and New Yr’s, flu charges by means of early January might seem decrease than they really are.
“It’s not likely clear if the circumstances are happening as a result of the precise incidence of an infection goes down, which I hope is the case, or if it’s simply backlog or much less individuals searching for care and testing in the course of the holidays and proper after the vacations,” Sood added.
“It’s good to see that circumstances could also be beginning to tail off, however I’d warning people who it’s nonetheless early days … we might need to see a seamless development, a downward development, earlier than we let down our guard,” stated Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes, senior doctor within the division of infectious illnesses at Mass Normal Brigham in Boston.
“What I’m studying on this report is that the CDC is anticipating [flu cases] to return up. We’re not at peak but … mostly we peak in February, however we’ll see,” Teichman added.
This tough flu season is probably going being attributable to “a slight mismatch” between the prevalent circulating flu pressure and the flu shot, based on Kuritzkes. It’s because a brand new flu pressure emerged after the flu shot formulation was determined.
Flu hospitalizations and deaths are up all through the nation.
Hospitalizations and deaths from the flu are up from the prior week, based on the newest CDC knowledge. Consultants say this is sensible after the notably excessive surge in circumstances.
“We at all times say that hospitalization and mortality are lagging indicators as a result of individuals need to have caught the flu after which progressed to the purpose the place they’re sick sufficient to be hospitalized,” Kuritzkes famous.
Wish to keep away from getting the flu? Right here’s what you are able to do.
“Individuals ought to nonetheless be persevering with to take all of the precautions that they ordinarily would, by way of cautious consideration to washing your arms if you are available from being out and about, carrying a masks should you’re in crowded indoor circumstances, staying away from people who find themselves coughing and sneezing,” Kuritzkes stated.
Strive additionally to keep away from contact with high-touch surfaces, Teichman instructed. As an example, should you’re out and about, use your sleeve to open doorways or press elevator buttons.
If you’re not feeling properly, keep residence. Common flu symptoms embrace fever, physique aches, complications and a sore throat. And should you discover any flu signs, take a flu take a look at. Yow will discover flu assessments at your native pharmacy and online. Medical suppliers can even administer flu assessments at your native pressing care or physician’s workplace.
“Testing can be nice, not only for stopping transmission, however for the individual’s personal sake,” Sood stated. “There’s therapy for influenza and there’s therapy for COVID-19, so figuring out that you’ve got it’d truly be useful for therapy choices.”
Vaccination stays a vital approach to defend your self and your family members from getting actually sick.
“A very powerful factor is that when you’ve got not but gotten the vaccine, and lots of fewer individuals this yr have been vaccinated than in previous years, it’s not too late,” Kuritzkes stated.
The vaccine might not preserve you from getting the flu, however it should assist defend you from getting as sick, ending up within the emergency room or worse, based on Teichman.
Whereas latest flu steering from the Division of Well being and Human Companies no longer unilaterally recommends flu vaccination, consultants say the flu shot stays one of the best ways to guard your self this winter.
“Within the final flu season, we misplaced 289 pediatric sufferers, kids below 18. Ninety p.c of those that succumbed to the flu weren’t vaccinated,” stated Teichman, who added that half of the kids who died didn’t have any circumstances that put them at excessive danger for loss of life from the flu.
