Flu Activity Rising Across US, Especially Among Children, Young Adults: CDC

Clinical labs reported a 5 percent positivity rate for the flu in the past week, up from 2.9 percent the previous week, the agency says.

A girl receives a flu vaccination at a free clinic held at a library in Lakewood, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2020. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that influenza activity is rising across the United States, with activity growing in children and younger adults, although viral activity is considered low overall.

Clinical labs reported a 5 percent positivity rate for the flu in the past week, up from 2.9 percent the previous week, according to the CDC’s FluView report, issued on Dec. 1. Outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses also increased from 2.2 percent to 2.5 percent.

“Seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally but is increasing, primarily among children and young adults,” the CDC said, adding that “the timing of the increasing activity is similar to several past seasons.”

The agency said it is estimating that there have been around 1.1 million illnesses, 450 deaths, and 11,000 hospitalizations due to the flu during the 2025-2026 season so far. No flu-associated pediatric deaths have been reported to CDC, it added.

Louisiana was the only state to have reported high influenza-like illness, according to the latest CDC update. Colorado is experiencing moderate flu activity, it said.

Tens of thousands of Americans usually die from the flu every winter. Last season, the CDC counted 280 children who died of flu-related complications.

Other than the flu, CDC data suggest that COVID-19 and RSV levels are also rising across the United States. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus.

But for those three viruses and other respiratory illnesses, activity is currently “at a low level” nationwide, the CDC said on Dec. 1.

RSV activity was found to be “increasing in the Southeastern and Southern areas of the country with emergency department visits increasing among children 0-4 years old.” COVID-19 activity was also described as low nationally.

Flu seasons tend to get bad between December and February, and illnesses likely will accelerate after Thanksgiving travel and gatherings, health officials previously said.

The latest CDC data indicate that for children, the vaccination rate this year is about the same as it was at this point last fall, at 35.9 percent. And the vaccination rate for adults is at about 39 percent, according to the CDC, which relies on survey information.

The share of adults age 75 or older who have said they’ve ever received an RSV vaccine is 39.8 percent, the CDC said.

For COVID-19, around 5.7 percent of U.S. children got one of the three vaccines available in the United States, while 14.7 percent of adults received the shot, according to the CDC. Around 30 percent of people age 65 and older got the COVID-19 vaccine so far this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.