Flu Rates by State 2026
State | Flu Activity - 2024 Week 01↓ | Flu Activity - 2023 Week 26 | Flu Activity - 2023 Week 01 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Louisiana | 13 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | New Mexico | 13 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 12 - Very High |
 | South Carolina | 13 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Tennessee | 13 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | Alabama | 12 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | Georgia | 12 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | California | 11 - Very High | 03 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Colorado | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 09 - High |
 | Mississippi | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | New Jersey | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | North Carolina | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | Texas | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Wyoming | 11 - Very High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | Arizona | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 03 - Minimal |
 | Arkansas | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | District of Columbia | 10 - High | 06 - Moderate | 09 - High |
 | Florida | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Idaho | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | Kentucky | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | Maryland | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | Massachusetts | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | North Dakota | 10 - High | 10 - High | |
 | Ohio | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Virginia | 10 - High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Connecticut | 09 - High | 01 - Minimal | 09 - High |
 | Indiana | 09 - High | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | Nebraska | 09 - High | 01 - Minimal | 09 - High |
 | Nevada | 09 - High | 01 - Minimal | 01 - Minimal |
 | Michigan | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Montana | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | New Hampshire | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 03 - Minimal |
 | New York | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 08 - High |
 | Oklahoma | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Pennsylvania | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 05 - Low |
 | Rhode Island | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | Washington | 08 - High | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Illinois | 07 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Iowa | 07 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 07 - Moderate |
 | Kansas | 07 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Maine | 07 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 10 - High |
 | Wisconsin | 07 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Missouri | 06 - Moderate | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | Alaska | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 01 - Minimal |
 | Delaware | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Hawaii | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | South Dakota | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 03 - Minimal |
 | Utah | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 06 - Moderate |
 | West Virginia | 05 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Oregon | 04 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Vermont | 04 - Low | 01 - Minimal | 04 - Low |
 | Minnesota | 01 - Minimal | 01 - Minimal | 01 - Minimal |
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory infection caused by viruses. It affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. The flu can be mild to severe and sometimes fatal for high-risk groups. Symptoms include fever, cough, muscle aches, congestion, runny nose, and fatigue. The flu can be spread through saliva, physical contact, airborne respiratory droplets (coughing and sneezing), and contaminated surfaces.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. Because the virus changes from year to year, it is recommended that each person get a flu vaccine each year at the beginning of the flu season in the fall. The vaccine can help prevent the virus overall or, at the very least, can help keep the symptoms mild if contracted. Other ways to prevent the flu virus are to wash your hands consistently, avoid touching your face and eyes, and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze using a tissue or the inside of your arm/elbow.
For historical context, the CDC estimated that the 2019-2020 flu season was responsible for 38 million illnesses, 18 million medical visits, 405,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths. Flu activity was unusually low during the 2020-2021 season: as of January 30, 2021, there had been just 1,316 positive flu cases, compared with 129,997 around the same point in the previous season.
Recent Influenza Activity
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors influenza activity throughout the United States and publishes weekly FluView surveillance reports. Its interactive influenza-like illness activity map lets readers compare activity across states and other reporting jurisdictions, with levels ranging from minimal to very high.
For week 38, ending September 26, 2026, the CDC reported minimal influenza-like illness activity in all 55 reporting jurisdictions. Nationwide, 1.7% of outpatient visits reported through ILINet were for influenza-like illness. These measures track respiratory symptoms, not laboratory-confirmed influenza alone, and can also reflect other respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and RSV. Activity changes over time, so readers can use the interactive map to explore different weeks and seasons.
