The U.S. flu season is off to an unusually early and fast start, with the South and West hit first, according to the latest federal data released Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that seven states had high flu activity in the week ending Nov. 7, up from two the week before, and that flu activity overall is higher than typically seen at this time of year.
The timing is notable because millions of Americans are about to travel and gather for Thanksgiving, which doctors expect will help the virus spread further.
What the latest numbers show
In its weekly FluView report for the week ending Nov. 7, the CDC said 11.3% of specimens tested at clinical labs were positive for influenza. Visits to doctors for flu-like illness reached 3.2%, above the national baseline of 2.9%, which the Associated Press noted signals the season is well underway. There were 9,584 lab-confirmed flu hospital admissions that week.
- High-activity states: California, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, according to the AP. Louisiana is seeing the worst of it so far.
- Season estimates so far: at least 2.6 million illnesses, 36,000 hospitalizations and 2,100 deaths, per the CDC.
- Children: five pediatric flu deaths have been reported this season, two of them in the latest week.
- Severity: the CDC’s preliminary severity rating is still low for all age groups.
- Forecast: CDC forecasters expect flu hospital admissions to keep increasing nationally through the week ending Nov. 28.
A mutated H1N1 strain is driving cases
Nearly all flu cases being tested right now are influenza A, and almost 99% of the subtyped samples in public health labs are H1N1, the CDC reported. The AP reported that this version of H1N1 carries mutations that could help it slip past the body’s immune defenses more easily. NewYork-Presbyterian noted earlier this month that experts flagged the mutations as a possible reason the flu shot could be less effective.
Early lab data are somewhat reassuring. A CDC analysis reported by Clinical Lab Products found that about 95% of the H1N1 viruses tested were well recognized by antibodies to this season’s vaccine strain. Andrew Pekosz of Johns Hopkins told the AP that early data suggest the vaccine can recognize the circulating virus, and he said there is no cause for concern at this point. Officials will not know how well the vaccine is working for months.
The season “is taking off and it’s taking off in a direction that’s only likely to increase in the next month or two.” Dr. Fred Lopez, LSU Health Sciences Center, to the Associated Press
Context: an early season is not always a worse one
The CDC has cautioned that an early rise does not necessarily mean a higher peak or a more severe season. Still, Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins told the AP that the flu hospitalization rate in mid-October was the highest for that point in autumn in more than 15 years. For comparison, last winter’s season surged in late December, and the CDC later estimated it caused at least 32 million illnesses, 380,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths.
Other viruses are in the mix, too. The CDC’s respiratory illness update on Friday described overall respiratory illness as “low but increasing,” with COVID-19 low nationally, RSV low in most areas, and rhinovirus/enterovirus elevated. This comes as the U.S. also deals with ongoing measles outbreaks.
Why it matters for families
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older and encourages anyone not yet vaccinated this season to get the shot now. Dr. Nicole Iovine of the University of Florida told the AP that vaccination is especially important ahead of the holidays. Doctors quoted by the AP also said people who already had the flu this fall should still get a shot, since the vaccine protects against more than one type of flu, while people with significant symptoms should wait until they recover.
- Young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant people and anyone with chronic health conditions are at higher risk of serious illness.
- Basic steps still help: wash hands often, cover coughs, and stay home when sick, especially before visiting older relatives.
- If someone in your family develops flu symptoms, call your doctor early. The CDC says prescription antiviral medicines work best when started soon after symptoms begin, particularly for high-risk patients.
- Seek medical care right away for severe symptoms, especially trouble breathing.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about which vaccine and precautions are right for you and your family, especially if you are planning Thanksgiving travel to see older or medically vulnerable relatives.
What to watch next
The CDC updates its FluView data every Friday. Next week’s report will show whether high activity spreads beyond the seven states and how hospitalizations are trending heading into Thanksgiving week. Upstormed News will follow this developing flu season.
Read more: Cold Weather and Your Heart: Simple Ways to Stay Safe This Winter
Have you or your family gotten a flu shot yet this season? Share your plans in the comments.
Sources: Associated Press via KSAT, “The US flu season is off to a very early start. It’s targeting the South and West now” (November 13, 2026); CDC, “Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 44, ending November 7, 2026” (November 13, 2026); CDC, “Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel” (November 13, 2026); Clinical Lab Products, “Early Flu Season Activity Climbs as H1N1 Dominates Lab Detections” (November 9, 2026); NewYork-Presbyterian, “Flu Season 2026-2027: What to Know” (November 6, 2026)
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